{
  "slug": "rent-vs-buy",
  "name": "gizza-ai/rent-vs-buy",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "title": "Rent vs Buy Calculator — gizza.ai",
  "description": "Should you rent or buy a home? Run the invest-the-difference net-worth race over your time horizon and get a break-even year and a buy/rent verdict.",
  "tags": [
    "rent vs buy calculator",
    "should i rent or buy",
    "rent vs buy",
    "break even year",
    "buy vs rent",
    "home buying calculator",
    "net worth comparison",
    "invest the difference",
    "cost of buying a home",
    "time horizon"
  ],
  "category": "utilities",
  "urls": {
    "page": "https://gizza.ai/tools/rent-vs-buy/",
    "markdown": "https://gizza.ai/tools/rent-vs-buy/index.md",
    "descriptor": "https://gizza.ai/tools/rent-vs-buy/tool.json",
    "deep_link_example": "https://gizza.ai/tools/rent-vs-buy/?home_price=400000&down_payment_percent=20&mortgage_rate_percent=6.5&loan_term_years=30&monthly_rent=2000&years=10&home_appreciation_percent=3&rent_growth_percent=3&investment_return_percent=5&property_tax_percent=1.1&home_insurance_percent=0.5&maintenance_percent=1&hoa_monthly=0&buying_closing_percent=3&selling_cost_percent=6&currency=%24&decimals=0"
  },
  "cli": "gizza tool rent-vs-buy 'home_price=400000'",
  "tool": {
    "description": "Compare the long-run financial outcome of renting versus buying a home using the standard invest-the-difference net-worth race, not a naive monthly rent-vs-mortgage comparison. Pass home_price, down_payment_percent, mortgage_rate_percent and loan_term_years for the purchase; monthly_rent for the alternative; and years for how long you'll stay (the biggest driver). Tune home_appreciation_percent, rent_growth_percent, investment_return_percent (higher returns favour renting), property_tax_percent, home_insurance_percent, maintenance_percent, hoa_monthly, buying_closing_percent and selling_cost_percent. The buyer's up-front cash is invested by the renter as opportunity cost; each month whoever pays less invests the difference; both funds compound. Every parameter is optional with a sensible default. Returns loan_amount, down_payment, total_upfront_cost, monthly_principal_interest, first_month_buy_cost, first_month_rent_cost, buy_net_worth, rent_net_worth, net_worth_difference, verdict (buy|rent|even), break_even_year, home_value_at_horizon, remaining_mortgage_at_horizon, total_rent_paid, a year-by-year net-worth race, and a plain-language summary.",
    "parameters": {
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "buying_closing_percent": {
          "default": 3.0,
          "description": "Buying closing costs as a percent of the price, paid up front. Default 3.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "currency": {
          "default": "$",
          "description": "Currency symbol prefixed to amounts in the summary. Default $.",
          "type": "string"
        },
        "decimals": {
          "default": 0.0,
          "description": "Decimal places for money outputs. Default 0 (range 0–10).",
          "maximum": 10,
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "down_payment_percent": {
          "default": 20.0,
          "description": "Down payment as a percent of the price. Default 20.",
          "maximum": 100,
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "hoa_monthly": {
          "default": 0.0,
          "description": "Monthly HOA / condo dues, in your currency. Default 0.",
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "home_appreciation_percent": {
          "default": 3.0,
          "description": "Annual home-value appreciation (percent). Default 3.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "home_insurance_percent": {
          "default": 0.5,
          "description": "Annual home insurance as a percent of home value. Default 0.5.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "home_price": {
          "default": 400000.0,
          "description": "Home purchase price, in your currency. Default 400000.",
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "investment_return_percent": {
          "default": 5.0,
          "description": "Annual after-tax return the renter earns on the invested down payment and monthly savings (percent). Higher returns favour renting. Default 5.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "loan_term_years": {
          "default": 30.0,
          "description": "Mortgage term in years. Default 30.",
          "maximum": 100,
          "minimum": 1,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "maintenance_percent": {
          "default": 1.0,
          "description": "Annual maintenance/repairs as a percent of home value. Default 1.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "monthly_rent": {
          "default": 2000.0,
          "description": "Current monthly rent for a comparable place. Default 2000.",
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "mortgage_rate_percent": {
          "default": 6.5,
          "description": "Nominal annual mortgage interest rate (percent). Default 6.5.",
          "minimum": 0,
          "type": "number"
        },
        "property_tax_percent": {
          "default": 1.1,
          "description": "Annual property tax as a percent of home value. Default 1.1.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "rent_growth_percent": {
          "default": 3.0,
          "description": "Annual rent increase (percent). Default 3.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "selling_cost_percent": {
          "default": 6.0,
          "description": "Selling costs (agent commission + closing) as a percent of the eventual sale price. Default 6.",
          "type": "number"
        },
        "years": {
          "default": 10.0,
          "description": "How many years you plan to stay — the comparison horizon. This is the single biggest driver of the result. Default 10.",
          "maximum": 100,
          "minimum": 1,
          "type": "number"
        }
      },
      "type": "object"
    }
  }
}