Renting isn't "throwing money away" and buying isn't automatically winning. Here's what each path really costs over the years you actually plan to stay.
The fair comparison isn't rent vs. mortgage payment — it's rent vs. net cost of buying: everything you'd pay out (down payment, mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance) minus the equity you'd walk away with if you sold at the projected home value. Buying front-loads huge costs, then claws them back through equity. That's why the answer flips depending on how long you stay.
Honesty about this model: it's simplified. Rent is held flat (real rents usually rise — that favors renting here), and we ignore selling costs of roughly 6–8% (favors buying), the return you'd earn investing the down payment instead (favors buying), and any tax deductions (favors renting). Some of these roughly cancel out, but if you'll stay under ~3 years, selling costs alone usually hand the win to renting.
Estimates are for education, not financial advice. Run your own numbers with local rents and taxes before deciding anything.
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