Momentum Realty · Jacksonville, FL
Rent vs. Buy Calculator.
Enter your current rent and we'll estimate the maximum home price where buying still beats renting.
Want the historical angle? See our Rent vs. Own in 2006 retrospective, with charts on the housing crash and 20-year wealth outcomes.
Wondering how much house actually makes sense to buy? Enter your rent and we'll calculate the highest purchase price where buying still beats renting. We account for mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, appreciation, selling costs, stock market returns, and the opportunity cost of your down payment.
Your numbers
Your rental situation
Buying assumptions
Default tracks the Freddie Mac 30-year weekly average. Adjust to your quoted rate.
By default, insurance is estimated as a percentage of home value so the comparison updates when price changes. You can override this with a real quote.
Investment assumptions
Target home price
Optional. Link rent to the home price to model an equivalent rental that rises with home value. Off by default so your real rent drives the maximum-price result.
Maximum purchase price that makes sense
—
Current home price
—
Difference
—
Discount needed
—
Given your current rent and assumptions, this is the highest home price where buying beats renting financially. If a home costs more than this amount, renting and investing the difference produces a higher net worth.
After 7 years
Buying wins by $0
Buy · net worth
$0
equity + investments at sale
Rent · net worth
$0
portfolio + deposit back
Break-even
—
when buying pulls ahead
Buy · monthly (yr 1)
$0
all-in, before tax benefit
📈
If you rent & invest the difference in stocks
$0
Net worth over time
BuyRent & invest
Cost of buying (over the hold)
Cost of renting (over the hold)
If you rent & invest the difference
The renter starts by investing the same cash the buyer would have used for the down payment and closing costs, then invests any monthly savings along the way.
Advanced housing economics
This compares ownership against renting a comparable property, allowing rent to rise as home value rises. Most buyers do not need this number to make a decision.
Break-even purchase price (equivalent housing)
—
Price-to-rent ratio
—
Annual equivalent rent
—
Home price
—
Want the answer for a real home?
A Momentum agent can run these numbers on an actual listing, the true taxes, insurance, and HOA/CDD, and tell you straight.
Call (904) 351-6461
Estimates only, not financial advice. Momentum Realty is not a lender or tax advisor. Verify rates, taxes, insurance, and CDD figures for any specific property.
Ready to price a payment? Use the Mortgage Payment Calculator. Selling instead? Try the Seller Net Proceeds Calculator.