New Jersey Buyers

Should I buy or keep renting?

Answer a few questions and see how the two paths compare over the time you expect to stay.

Section 1

What does renting cost you?

Section 2

What would buying look like?

Down Payment
Loan Term
Section 3

How long do you think you'll live there?

Rent

$2,200

per month today

Buy

$3,293

estimated per month today

Buying would cost approximately $1,093 more per month today.

Assumption

What if the home's value changes?

Estimated annual home appreciation. Assumption only, not a prediction.
Assumption

Estimated home maintenance

Planning assumptions: Low 0.5%, Average 1.0%, High 1.5% of home value per year.
Long-Term Comparison

Where could you be in 5 years?

If you rent
Total Estimated Rent Paid$140,161
Estimated Home Equity$0

This comparison looks at housing scenarios only.

If you buy
Total Estimated Housing Payments$197,560
Estimated Maintenance$22,929
Estimated Remaining Mortgage Balance$358,062
Estimated Principal Paid$24,438
Estimated Home Value$492,691
Estimated Home Equity$134,629

Home equity is not the same as cash or profit. Selling costs, market conditions and other expenses would affect the amount you could actually receive from a future sale.

Estimated Buyer Closing Costs

$8,500

Planning assumption of 2% of purchase price. Actual closing costs vary based on financing, property, lender, title charges, prepaid taxes, insurance and other transaction-specific expenses.

Estimated Future Selling Costs

$39,415

Future selling costs are unknown and can vary substantially. This is a planning assumption only.

Your estimated break-even point

9 Years, 5 Months

Based on the assumptions you entered, this is approximately when the estimated financial benefit of owning catches up with the estimated cost of continuing to rent.

Today

$1,093 / mo more to buy

Year 1

Renting ahead $43,925

Break-even

Buying ahead $970

Year 5

Renting ahead $36,113

Renting may make more sense

Based on your timeline and the assumptions entered, renting is estimated to produce the stronger housing-related financial position.

The biggest factor

Your current rent is substantially lower than the estimated cost of owning.

Educational estimate only. Buying and renting both involve financial and non-financial considerations.

What if?

Change a number and watch it update

Years Staying

Want to see how the numbers change at different home prices?

This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, legal, lending or real estate advice. Results are estimates based on information entered by the user and planning assumptions used by the calculator. Actual mortgage rates, loan terms, property taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, closing costs, home values, rent increases and future selling costs will vary. Home appreciation is not guaranteed. This calculator compares housing-related costs and does not account for every financial consideration, including potential investment returns on money not used for a down payment. Consult appropriate professionals regarding your individual circumstances.