Based on the assumptions you have input, you would save approximately $48,257 (in today's dollars) by renting, rather than buying a home, over the 5 year timeframe you have entered.<table class='pure-table' role='grid'><tr><th class='section'>Rent vs. Buy Analysis</th><th></th><th scope="col">Rent</th><th scope="col">Buy</th></tr><tr><td>Rent and fees</td><td></td><td>$130,800</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mortgage payments</td><td></td><td></td><td>$159,436</td></tr><tr><td>Closing costs</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$0</td></tr><tr><td>Property insurance</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$15,612</td></tr><tr><td>Property taxes</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$62,448</td></tr><tr><td>Maintenance</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$20,000</td></tr><tr><td>Opportunity cost (tied-up equity)</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$26,088</td></tr><tr><td>Tax savings (interest/taxes)</td><td>-</td><td></td><td>$0</td></tr><tr><td>Appreciation</td><td>-</td><td></td><td>$54,642</td></tr><tr><td>Principal reduction</td><td>-</td><td></td><td>$45,584</td></tr><tr><td>Realtor fees on future sale</td><td>+</td><td></td><td>$0</td></tr><tr><td>Total cost</td><td>=</td><td>$130,800</td><td>$183,358</td></tr><tr><td>Present value at inflation</td><td></td><td>$121,186</td><td>$169,442</td></tr><tr><td>Difference</td><td></td><td></td><td>$-48,257</td></tr></table> <div id="chart1Container">Chart will load here</div> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- var myChart1 = new FusionCharts( "MSColumn2D", "myChart1Id", "100%", "100%", "0", "1" ); myChart1.setXMLData("<chart showValues='1' showFCMenuItem='0' decimals='0' formatNumberScale='0' caption='Total Present Value Cost Comparison' xAxisName='' numberPrefix='$' bgColor='FFFFFF' showBorder='1' borderColor='FFFFFF' borderThickness='1' canvasBgColor='E6E3CF' palette='2' numberSuffix='' thousandSeparator=',' decimalSeparator='.'><categories><category label='' /></categories><dataset seriesName='Rent'><set value='121186.0' /></dataset><dataset seriesName='Own'><set value='169442.0' /></dataset></chart>"); // --> </script> <table class='pure-table pure-table-bordered' role='grid'><tr><th scope="col">Year</th><th scope="col">Rent & Fees</th><th scope="col">Mortgage Payment</th><th scope="col">Insurance, Taxes & Maintenance</th><th scope="col">Opportunity Cost</th><th scope="col">Tax Savings</th><th scope="col">Appreciation</th><th scope="col">Principal Reduction</th><th scope="col">Cost of Buying</th></tr><tr><td role="rowheader" scope="row">1</td><td>$26,160</td><td>$31,887</td><td>$19,000</td><td>$2,906</td><td>$0</td><td>$10,500</td><td>$12,193</td><td>$31,100</td></tr><tr><td role="rowheader" scope="row">2</td><td>26,160</td><td>31,887</td><td>19,300</td><td>4,024</td><td>0</td><td>10,710</td><td>7,747</td><td>36,755</td></tr><tr><td role="rowheader" scope="row">3</td><td>26,160</td><td>31,887</td><td>19,606</td><td>5,179</td><td>0</td><td>10,924</td><td>8,134</td><td>37,614</td></tr><tr><td role="rowheader" scope="row">4</td><td>26,160</td><td>31,887</td><td>19,918</td><td>6,372</td><td>0</td><td>11,143</td><td>8,541</td><td>38,494</td></tr><tr><td role="rowheader" scope="row">5</td><td>26,160</td><td>31,887</td><td>20,236</td><td>7,605</td><td>0</td><td>11,366</td><td>8,968</td><td>39,396</td></tr></table>