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A full lifetime comparison — mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, PMI, appreciation, selling costs, and the opportunity cost of your down payment invested elsewhere.
Refreshed daily from Freddie Mac PMMS (weekly survey) · data as of October 15, 2026
Updated monthly from Bank of England (IADB) · latest data September 30, 2026
Updated monthly from ECB Data Portal · latest data August 2026
Updated monthly from Reserve Bank of Australia (F5/F1.1) · latest data September 30, 2026
Reference figure (hand-reviewed June 2026) — not auto-fetched
Rates shown are national averages for reference only. Actual rates vary by lender, credit score, and LTV. US 30/15-yr figures come from the Freddie Mac PMMS public dataset. UK (Bank of England), Euro area (ECB) and Australia (RBA) figures come from official statistics that publish monthly, so they lag by several weeks; each card shows its own latest period. If a source can't be reached, the card keeps the last figures it fetched successfully. Canada is a reference figure only. Countries without one credible national benchmark (e.g. India, where lender rates span roughly 7%–12%+) are intentionally not shown.
Each month we simulate both paths:
At the end of the horizon we compute Buy net cost = total outflows − (home equity − selling costs), and Rent net cost = total outflows − investment portfolio gains. Whichever is smaller wins.
The renter's down payment and closing costs are invested at your assumed return. Any month where buying costs more than renting, the difference is also invested. That growing portfolio offsets the renter's outflows.
Transaction costs (closing + selling) mean buying almost always loses in the first few years. The break-even year is the earliest point at which selling would recover those costs.
Only if you itemize. With the higher standard deduction, most households don't — leave the toggle off for a conservative comparison.
Long-run US home appreciation is ~3–4%/yr nominal. Use lower for slow markets, higher only with strong local data.
Short horizons almost always favor renting. Selling costs (~6–8%) plus closing costs (~2–4%) must be recovered by appreciation and principal paydown.
Averaged over decades, 1–2% is typical (roof, HVAC, plumbing, appliances). Newer homes trend low, older homes trend high.
Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not financial advice. Verify with a qualified professional before making decisions.
Last updated October 2026