Sam · What-If StrategistWhat if I bought a home instead of renting?
Buying builds equity; renting keeps cash free to invest. See which could leave you wealthier after several years once you compare equity against renting and investing the difference.
Free to start · iOS & Android
It's not just price vs rent
Buying forces you to save through your mortgage and gives you an asset that can appreciate — but a chunk of every early payment is interest, plus you cover taxes, insurance and upkeep. Renting frees up your down payment and any monthly difference to invest elsewhere. The honest comparison is total wealth after several years, which is what the calculator estimates on both sides.
Questions people ask
Is it always better to buy than rent?
No. The answer hinges on how long you stay, home price growth, the rate you'd pay, rent levels, and the return you could earn investing instead. Short stays and high prices relative to rent often favour renting; long stays and steady appreciation often favour buying. The calculator lets you test your own assumptions.
What costs do people forget when buying?
Beyond the deposit and mortgage, owners cover property taxes, insurance, maintenance and often strata or HOA fees — commonly estimated around 1–2% of the home's value each year. This tool assumes about 1.5% so the comparison isn't tilted unfairly toward buying.
What does "rent and invest the difference" mean?
If renting costs less per month than owning, a renter can invest that monthly difference along with the down payment they didn't tie up in a house. Over years that invested money can grow into real wealth — which is why renting isn't automatically "throwing money away."
Related what-ifs
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