: The most overlooked factor. Calculators like Zillow's show that if you rent and invest your down payment, you could potentially out-earn a home's equity growth, especially in the first 3–5 years.
: Accounts for opportunity cost (what you'd earn by investing your down payment), the 2017 mortgage interest deduction cap, and localized appreciation. rent or buy home calculator
: Critics argue its default assumptions can be overly pessimistic toward buying, specifically regarding how high home price growth must be to "win". : The most overlooked factor
: Widely considered the gold standard due to its comprehensive inclusion of "unrecoverable costs". : Critics argue its default assumptions can be
Are you looking to compare a or just looking for a general breakdown of your local market's costs?
: Generally favors renting and investing the difference. Common Criticism of Calculators
: The interface uses several sliders that some find less precise than text-entry fields. Key Metrics to Watch