What this can show
A first-year comparison of the checks you write, plus the often-missed part of a mortgage payment that stays yours instead of a landlord's. Think of it as the floor of the case for buying, not the ceiling.
First-time buyers
Rent vs buy, without the hype.
Renting is one flat cost. A mortgage payment usually costs more per month, but part of it pays down your own balance instead of a landlord's. This is a rough first-year look at that tradeoff, using your numbers.
All calculatorsYour numbers
Best guesses are fine for a first look. Blank fields are waiting for your input.
What it can't decide
It doesn't model appreciation, maintenance, taxes, mortgage insurance, or investing the difference. It also can't price the intangibles: a fixed payment while rent climbs, the freedom to make the place your own, and the pride of ownership. And it only shows year one, so the case for buying grows the longer you stay.
Best next step
If the picture looks close, a pre-approval turns the guesses into real numbers. And tell me how long you plan to stay, because that one number tips the rent-versus-buy answer more than almost anything else.
Thinking about the jump?
Let's find out what you'd actually qualify for.
And what it would really cost. No question is too basic, and it's a big decision, so let's get it right together.
Educational calculator disclaimer
Educational estimate only. This tool uses the numbers you enter, including any rates you estimate, which are not rates offered by Bay Capital Mortgage Corporation. Nothing here is a quote, an offer, an interest rate, an APR, a pre-approval, or a commitment to make a loan. Your actual numbers depend on full underwriting and credit approval.
This comparison is deliberately simplified. It does not include appreciation, maintenance, tax effects, mortgage insurance, or rent growth.