Rough comparison over a holding period: total rent paid vs net cost of buying after building equity. Stability and vocation matter more than the spreadsheet alone.
Total rent paid
$205,352
Net buy cost
$122,882
Cash out − equity
Buy advantage
$82,470
P&I ≈ $2,023/mo
Ignores selling costs, PMI, and opportunity cost of the down payment invested elsewhere. Directional only.
Premium travel and household credits
Whether you rent or buy, card rewards and cashback on household spend still stack.
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Next: read the sequence
What to do with the number, before another tool or another calculator.
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