Is it better to buy or rent?

It depends on how long you stay in the home, the mortgage rate, the appreciation of the property and the return you would get by investing the down payment and the difference in spending. The calculator compares the scenarios.

After how many years does buying pay off?

With purchase costs of 5-10%, it often takes several years (even 7-10) for the buyer's net worth to exceed the renter's. The break-even point is shown in the result.

What matters besides the numbers?

Job stability, need for mobility, risk tolerance and the personal value of owning your home: aspects the calculation does not measure.

Why is the difference in spending invested?

Someone who rents spends less each month: the difference, if invested, grows over time. This makes the comparison fair between the two choices.

Victor & Co Real Estate

Rent or buy: which is better?

Compare over time the net worth of someone who buys with a mortgage and someone who rents and invests the difference. Change the assumptions and find after how many years buying pays off.

Property price€200,000

Down payment20%

Current monthly rent

€/m

How many years you will stay15 years

Term25 years

Assumptions (editable)

Annual home appreciation

Annual rent increase

Annual investment return

Annual ownership costs (IMU property tax, maintenance, condominium fees)

Buying is better by

€45,127

After 15 years

Break-even after

6 years

Monthly payment

€809.60

TAN 3.60%

Net worth over time

If you buyIf you rent and invest€150,866 – €0

Simplified model: it does not include resale costs, tax changes, any reliefs or market risks; future returns are not guaranteed. Informational tool: results are estimates and do not constitute an offer, financial advice or credit brokerage. Actual rates, spreads and taxes depend on the bank, the notary and your situation: check them before deciding.

The real cost of buying

It is not just the payment: the locked-in down payment, interest, taxes, maintenance and IMU (if not a first home) all weigh on the result.

The real cost of renting

Rent builds no equity but leaves you liquidity and flexibility; if that liquidity is invested well, it can compete with buying.

How to use the comparison

Try cautious and optimistic scenarios for appreciation and return. If buying pays off even in the cautious scenario, the choice is more solid.

Frequently asked questions

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