Alquilar vs Comprar Casa
Compare el impacto financiero de alquilar versus comprar su casa. Analice la hipoteca, valorización, aumento de alquileres y rendimientos.
Lea también: Guía completa de la calculadora, Guía alquilar vs comprar, Calculadora hipoteca asequible, Comprar vivienda — camino guiado, Guia alugar vs comprar imóvel, Calculadora de juros compostos, Calculadora de financiamento
Cómo funciona
Alquilar vs comprar: compara patrimonio neto de comprar frente a alquilar e invertir la entrada.
Compare patrimonio neto alquilar (invirtiendo entrada) vs comprar. El año de equilibrio depende de permanencia, hipoteca, inflación del alquiler y plusvalía.
¿Cuándo conviene comprar vs alquilar?
Comprar acumula equity pero paga intereses, mantenimiento, impuestos y costes de cierre. Alquilar deja la entrada invertida con retorno de oportunidad—compare patrimonio neto en su horizonte de estancia.
Break-even suele necesitar 5–8 años en mercados medios después de costes de transacción (~2–3% compra + venta). Estancias cortas favorecen alquilar.
Suba alquiler, apreciación de vivienda y retorno de inversión alternativo para stress-test—una sola suposición cambia el ganador.
Guía, ejemplos y metodología
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.
Related calculators
- Calculadora de Hipoteca Asequible
- Calculadora de Préstamos
- Calculadora de Puntos Hipotecarios
- Calculadora de HELOC
Preguntas frecuentes
Is it better to rent or buy a house?
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.
¿Cuándo gana comprar frente a alquilar?
Comprar suele ganar si se queda más allá del break-even, sube el alquiler y la vivienda se revaloriza. Estancias cortas favorecen alquilar.
¿Qué es el costo de oportunidad del enganche?
El enganche podría invertirse en mercados líquidos si alquila — mayor rendimiento alternativo favorece alquilar.
¿Incluyo plusvalía e inflación del alquiler?
Sí — suelen decidir el resultado. Pruebe escenarios conservador y optimista.
¿Sustituye asesoramiento inmobiliario?
No — modelo educativo; impuestos y factores personales siguen importando.