Rent vs Buy Calculator - which is better?

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Making a move? Let’s figure out what’s best for you: renting or buying your next home.

It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. Many factors like, your finances, family and job goals, and the local housing market play a critical role.

Both renting and buying come with unique benefits.  Renting may seem like an expense, but it can be a practical choice if you are anticipating a relocation or working on building up savings and credit scores.  A decision to buy, could be a great option if you are looking to establish long-term roots in a community and start building equity.

A good rule of thumb is called the 5% rule.  While only one factor in the decision process, the 5% rules says it may be more beneficial to buy if the annual cost of owning a home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance, is less than 5% of the properties purchase price.

The Rent vs Buy Calculator is a great tool to get you started with the decision process.  By looking at different scenarios and becoming familiar with all the moving parts and costs with buying a home, you can start planning and setting your goals.

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Which makes the most sense?

Calculator

Affordability Calculator

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Monthly Debts

Monthly Debt includes the payments you make each month on auto loans, and credit cards (minimum payment) and student loans. Exclude Rent and Utilities.

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Monthly Debts

Monthly Debt includes the payments you make each month on auto loans, and credit cards (minimum payment) and student loans. Exclude Rent and Utilities.

information
Monthly Debts

Monthly Debt includes the payments you make each month on auto loans, and credit cards (minimum payment) and student loans. Exclude Rent and Utilities.

information
Monthly Debts

Monthly Debt includes the payments you make each month on auto loans, and credit cards (minimum payment) and student loans. Exclude Rent and Utilities.

information
Monthly Debts

Monthly Debt includes the payments you make each month on auto loans, and credit cards (minimum payment) and student loans. Exclude Rent and Utilities.

What is most important to you?

Current Loan

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Mortgage Amount

Enter the amount of the actual mortgage after down payment.

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Interest Rate

Enter the interest rate of the original Mortgage.

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Loan Term

Enter the number of years of your original Mortgage.

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Mortgage Start Date

Choose the month and year your original mortgage started.

New Loan

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Mortgage Amount

Enter your current mortgage balance.

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Cash Out Amount

Enter the amount of Cash Out you are taking on your new mortgage.

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Refinancce Costs

Enter the amount of fixed refinance costs (Points/Fees).

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New Loan Amount

The new loan amount after cash out and refinance costs.

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Interest Rate

Enter the current Market Rate.

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Loan Term

Enter the number of years of the Mortgage.

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Mortgage Start Date

Choose the month and year the new mortgage will start.

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Include Refinance Costs

Will Refinance costs be included in the new loan?

informationMortgage Information

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Home Price

Enter the amount of the home's value.

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Down Payment

Enter the amount or percentage of the down payment.

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Mortgage Amount

Enter the amount of the actual mortgage after down payment.

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Interest Rate

Enter the current Market Rate.

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Loan Term

Choose the number of years of the Mortgage.

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Mortgage Start Date

Choose the month and year the mortgage will start.

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PMI Rate

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) protects the lender from losing money if you default on the loan. Most mortgages with a down payment of less than 20% require PMI. his is an estimate based on the details above. PMI can vary significantly based on several factors.

Optional Information

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Home Insurance

Enter the annual amount of insurance.

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Annual Tax Amount

Enter the annual tax amount.

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HOA Dues

Enter the annual HOA dues.

informationBuying Assumptions

informationRenting Assumptions

What is most important to you?

Current Loan

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Mortgage Amount

Enter the amount of the actual mortgage after down payment.

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Interest Rate

Enter the interest rate of the original Mortgage.

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Loan Term

Enter the number of years of your original Mortgage.

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Mortgage Start Date

Choose the month and year your original mortgage started.

New Loan

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Mortgage Amount

Enter your current mortgage balance.

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Cash Out Amount

Enter the amount of Cash Out you are taking on your new mortgage.

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Refinancce Costs

Enter the amount of fixed refinance costs (Points/Fees).

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New Loan Amount

The new loan amount after cash out and refinance costs.

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Interest Rate

Enter the current Market Rate.

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Loan Term

Enter the number of years of the Mortgage.

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Mortgage Start Date

Choose the month and year the new mortgage will start.

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Include Refinance Costs

Will Refinance costs be included in the new loan?

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Property Value or Purchase Price

Enter the property Value or purchase Price.

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Unit 1 Monthly Rent

Enter the Unit 1 Monthly Rent.

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Annual Property Taxes

Enter the Annual Property Taxes.

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Annual Insurance

Enter the Annual Insurance.

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Monthly HOA Fee

Enter the Monthly HOA Fee.

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Annual Utilities

Enter the Annual Utilities.

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Closing Costs

Enter the Closing Costs.

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Payment Breakdown

$0

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues
  • PMI

Loan Details

  • Home Value:
  • Mortgage Amount:
  • Monthly Conventional Payment:
  • Down Payment:
  • Monthly Estimated PMI:
Monthly Mortgage Payment

Loan Amount

Your Debt to Income Ratio

/

 Allowable Debt to Income Ratio

50%/50%
Purchase Price $200000
Down Payment $0
Summary: Based on what you input into today your Total Payment would be $2850 on a Conventional Loan with a Down Payment of 15%. Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is 32%/45% and the maximum allowable on this program type is 50%/50%. Please confirm all these numbers for accuracy with your loan officer. The Monthly Debts Calculation is often where we see errors.

Payment Breakdown

$0

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues
  • MIP

Loan Details

  • Home Value:
  • Base Loan Amount:
  • Monthly FHA Payment:
  • Down Payment:
  • FHA Loan Amount:
  • Upfront MIP:
Monthly Mortgage Payment

Loan Amount

Your Debt to Income Ratio

/

 Allowable Debt to Income Ratio

50%/50%
Purchase Price $200000
Down Payment $0
Summary: Based on what you input into today your Total Payment would be $2850 on a FHA Loan with a Down Payment of 15%. Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is 32%/45% and the maximum allowable on this program type is 50%/50%. Please confirm all these numbers for accuracy with your loan officer. The Monthly Debts Calculation is often where we see errors.

Payment Breakdown

$0

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues

Loan Details

  • Home Value:
  • Base Loan Amount:
  • Monthly VA Payment:
  • Down Payment:
  • VA Loan Amount:
  • VA Funding Fee:
Monthly Mortgage Payment

Loan Amount

Your Debt to Income Ratio

/

 Allowable Debt to Income Ratio

65%/65%
Purchase Price $200000
Down Payment $0
Summary: Based on what you input into today your Total Payment would be $2850 on a VA Loan with a Down Payment of 15%. Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is 32%/45% and the maximum allowable on this program type is 65%/65%. Please confirm all these numbers for accuracy with your loan officer. The Monthly Debts Calculation is often where we see errors.

Payment Breakdown

$0

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues
  • USDA MIP

Loan Details

  • Home Value:
  • Base Loan Amount:
  • Monthly USDA Payment:
  • Down Payment:
  • USDA Loan Amount:
  • USDA Guarantee Fee:
Monthly Mortgage Payment

Loan Amount

Your Debt to Income Ratio

/

 Allowable Debt to Income Ratio

29%/41%
Purchase Price $200000
Down Payment $0
Summary: Based on what you input into today your Total Payment would be $2850 on a USDA Loan with a Down Payment of 15%. Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is 32%/45% and the maximum allowable on this program type is 29%/41%. Please confirm all these numbers for accuracy with your loan officer. The Monthly Debts Calculation is often where we see errors.

Payment Breakdown

$0

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues
  • PMI

Loan Details

  • Home Value:
  • Mortgage Amount:
  • Monthly Conventional Payment:
  • Down Payment:
  • Monthly Estimated PMI:
Monthly Mortgage Payment

Loan Amount

Your Debt to Income Ratio

/

 Allowable Debt to Income Ratio

50%/50%
Purchase Price $200000
Down Payment $0
Summary: Based on what you input into today your Total Payment would be $2850 on a Jumbo Loan with a Down Payment of 15%. Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is 32%/45% and the maximum allowable on this program type is 50%/50%. Please confirm all these numbers for accuracy with your loan officer. The Monthly Debts Calculation is often where we see errors.
All Payment Total Loan Amount Total Interest Paid

Payment Breakdown

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Payment Breakdown

A breakdown of your total payment so you can see where money is allocated.

$1,915

per month

  • Principal & Interest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • HOA Dues
  • PMI
  • Extra Payment
  • Monthly Payment
  • Total Payment
  • Home Value:
  • Mortgage Amount:
  • Monthly Principal & Interest:
  • Monthly Extra Payment:
  • Monthly Property Tax:
  • Monthly Home Insurance:
  • Monthly PMI:
  • Monthly HOA Fees:
  • Total # Of Payments:
  • Down Payment:
  • Principal:
  • Total Extra Payment:
  • Total Interest Paid:
  • Total Tax, Insurance, PMI and Fees:
  • Total of all Payments:
Savings Payment Amount Shorten Loan Term By

Early Payoff Strategy

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Early Payoff Strategy

Add an extra payment and see how many months you can eliminate on the back end of the loan.

Lump Sum Payment

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Lump Sum Payment

Shorten your loan term by paying a lump sum all to principal.

Monthly Payment Decrease

$

 Total Interest Difference

$

Monthly Payment Comparison

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Payment Breakdown

A breakdown of your total payment so you can see where money is allocated.

Current Loan

$