A rent vs buy calculator compares net wealth from owning (equity minus costs) versus renting and investing the down payment over your planned stay.
Vergleichen Sie Vermögen: mieten (Kapital anlegen) vs kaufen (Eigenkapital minus Kosten). Break-even hängt von Dauer, Zins, Mietsteigerung und Preisentwicklung ab.
Wann lohnt Kaufen vs Mieten?
Kaufen baut Equity auf, kostet aber Zinsen, Instandhaltung, Steuern und Closing. Mieten lässt Anzahlung mit Opportunitätsrendite investiert—Nettovermögen über geplante Dauer vergleichen.
Break-even braucht oft 5–8 Jahre in mittleren Märkten nach Transaktionskosten (~2–3 % Kauf + Verkauf). Kurze Dauer begünstigt Miete.
Miete, Hauswertsteigerung und Alternativrendite stress-testen—eine Annahme kann den Gewinner ändern.
Leitfaden, Beispiele und Methodik
How to use this rent vs buy calculator
Enter home price, down payment, mortgage rate and term, rent, rent growth, home appreciation, maintenance/tax burden, and how long you might stay. Compare net wealth from buying versus renting and investing the down payment difference.
Example (USD)
Input
Sample
Why it matters
Home price
$450,000
Drives loan size and equity
Down payment
20% ($90,000)
Opportunity cost if you rented
Horizon
7 years
Buying often wins with longer stays
How we calculate
Buying path: equity build-up minus carrying costs (mortgage interest, maintenance, taxes, insurance proxy). Renting path: investable cash that would have been tied up in the home, minus rent increases. Break-even depends heavily on local prices—this is a model, not an appraisal.
Common mistakes
Ignoring transaction costs (agent fees, closing) when moving within 3–5 years.
Using national average appreciation for a specific metro.
Forgetting HOA, special assessments, or major repairs in owner costs.
Comparing rent on a 1-bed apartment to buying a single-family home.
Break-even and how long you stay
Closing costs on a purchase—typically 2–5% of price plus moving expenses—must be spread over years of ownership to beat renting. Many US markets show rent vs buy break-even between five and ten years depending on price-to-rent ratios. If you might relocate for work within three years, model that horizon explicitly; buying often loses after frictional costs.
Opportunity cost of the down payment
Money in a down payment is money not invested elsewhere. This calculator's renting path invests that cash at your stated return assumption while you pay rent. If you expect strong stock market returns and local home appreciation is modest, renting plus investing can win on paper—behavior and discipline matter in real life.
Taxes and itemized deductions (US)
Mortgage interest and property tax may be deductible when you itemize, but the standard deduction covers many households after recent tax law changes. We do not model individual tax outcomes here—treat tax savings as uncertain and run scenarios with and without them if you itemize.
Next steps after rent vs buy
If buying wins on horizon, bracket price with our mortgage affordability calculator, then model payment and amortization on the mortgage calculator. Our Buy a Home Financial Path chains affordability → rent vs buy → points → HELOC → refinance in one guided sequence.
It depends on how long you stay, local prices, rent levels, and your investment return on cash not tied up in a down payment. Short stays often favor renting; longer horizons often favor buying in many US markets—but run your city’s numbers here.
Wann lohnt sich Kaufen rechnerisch gegen Mieten?
Kaufen lohnt oft bei langem Wohnen, steigender Miete und Wertzuwachs. Kurze Dauer begünstigt Mieten.
Was sind Opportunitätskosten der Anzahlung?
Die Anzahlung könnte am Markt arbeiten statt in der Immobilie — höhere Alternativrendite begünstigt Mieten.
Wertsteigerung und Mietinflation einbeziehen?
Ja — oft entscheidend. Szenarien im Rechner testen.
Ersetzt das individuelle Immobilienberatung?
Nein — Bildungsmodell; Steuern und persönliche Faktoren zählen mit.