Looking for feedback on a Buy vs Rent calculator I built
I've always found that most buy vs rent calculators either oversimplify the decision or don't clearly show the assumptions behind the numbers.
As a side project, I built a calculator that compares buying versus renting over time and factors in:
- Mortgage payments and interest
- Property taxes
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- HOA fees
- Home appreciation
- Selling costs
- Rent increases
- Opportunity cost of the down payment
One output I found particularly useful is the break-even year—the point where buying becomes less expensive than renting on a net-cost basis.
Before I spend more time improving it, I'd love feedback from investors and homeowners:
- What assumptions do you use when evaluating buy vs rent?
- Are there factors most calculators miss?
- Do you find break-even analysis useful, or do you focus on different metrics?
Happy to share the calculator with anyone interested in trying it.