Most rent vs buy calculators are either too complex or oversimplified. We wanted a clear plain-English answer in under 60 seconds. Traditional calculators often bury users in jargon, hidden assumptions, or endless forms that take 20+ minutes to complete. Our goal was to create a tool that delivers reliable insights quickly, without requiring financial expertise or a degree in economics.
Transparent assumptions (every input has a tooltip explaining it), opportunity cost of the down payment is included (most calculators ignore this), live mortgage rates from FRED, no signup walls. Unlike many tools that lock features behind emails or subscriptions, ours is completely free and accessible. We pull real-time mortgage data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API, ensuring your calculations reflect current market conditions rather than outdated presets.
Calculator outputs are not influenced by affiliate partners. The math runs first; recommendations are surfaced based on the result, not the other way around. We believe in unbiased analysis—your financial decisions should be based on data, not marketing incentives. While we do display affiliate links for relevant services (like mortgage lenders or insurance), these never alter the core calculation or recommendation logic.
Independent personal finance project. Not affiliated with any lender, real estate company, or insurance provider. This site is maintained by a small team passionate about making personal finance more accessible. We have no ties to banks, real estate agents, or financial institutions, ensuring our advice remains objective and user-focused.
Questions? Email shouldrentorbuy@gmail.com.