Guides
Plain-language guides on renting versus buying, mortgages, affordability, down payments, and PMI — built on our open, tested methodology.
Should You Rent or Buy? The Complete Guide
The complete answer: when buying beats renting, when it doesn't, and why how long you stay decides it.
Read guide →How the Rent vs Buy Math Works
The fair way to compare is net worth, not payments — the invest-the-difference logic in plain language.
Read guide →The Break-Even Horizon, Explained
What break-even means, why transaction costs make short stays expensive to buy, and what moves the number.
Read guide →The Opportunity Cost of Your Down Payment
Cash in a down payment can't be invested — how to weigh your mortgage rate against expected returns.
Read guide →Closing and Selling Costs, Explained
The one-off costs of buying and selling a home, itemized, and why they dominate short-horizon decisions.
Read guide →How Much House Can You Afford?
Turn your income, debts, and down payment into a realistic price range using the 28/36 rule.
Read guide →15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage: Which Is Better?
Lower payment or less interest? How a 15-year and a 30-year mortgage really differ.
Read guide →How to Avoid PMI (and When It's Worth Paying)
What PMI costs, the ways to avoid it, and when paying it is actually the smart move.
Read guide →Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Invest?
Guaranteed return versus expected return — how to decide between extra mortgage payments and investing.
Read guide →Price-to-Rent Ratio, Explained
A fast first-pass signal for rent vs buy: what the ratio means and where it misleads.
Read guide →How Inflation Drives Home Prices and Rent
With real data: how much of home-price and rent growth is just inflation — and why the real spread is what decides rent vs buy.
Read guide →Prefer to see the math? Read our methodology or browse the glossary.