Functional DemoConsumer Application

Rent vs. Buy Mini Calculator

An interactive simulator that compares renting versus buying side by side over your timeline.

Rent vs Buy Decision Simulator landing page with headline about whether renting or buying builds more wealth and a Build my comparison button. — Rent vs Buy landing

What it solves

Deciding whether to rent or buy a home is confusing. The real monthly cost, upfront cash, break-even point, equity built, and long-term net worth of each path are hard to compare, and generic mortgage calculators do not show how the two financial futures diverge over time.

Built for People deciding whether to rent or buy — first-time homebuyers and renters considering buying, plus the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and financial coaches advising them.

Overview

Rent vs Buy Decision Simulator compares renting and buying side by side over a chosen time horizon. Users pick Market Mode or Property Mode, enter rent or home price and a few assumptions, and instantly see monthly cost, upfront cash, break-even point, equity built, and net worth for each path, with a plain-language explanation of which path wins and when. A scenario controller adjusts rate, down payment, appreciation, rent growth, investment return, and refinance assumptions, while a game-like scoring layer of scores, meters, and milestone badges makes the tradeoffs tangible. It also simulates refinance and cash-out potential.

What this demonstrates

A deterministic, unit-tested financial engine — mortgage amortization, equity growth, appreciation, invested-savings modeling, break-even detection, and refinance/cash-out simulation — drives an interactive comparison UI that updates instantly, with gamification logic kept separate from the financial math.

What makes it different

Most rent-vs-buy tools are mortgage calculators. This one simulates two financial futures side by side and shows exactly when each path wins.

Two paths, compared side by side over your timeline
Value before signupThe core calculator has no login wall.
Every assumption is editable
Plain-language verdicts, not just numbers
Game-like, but never biased for or against buying
Gamification is kept separate from the financial math

Core capabilities · 15

Market Mode
Compare renting vs buying for a city or general market.
Property Mode
Analyze a specific home with detailed assumptions.
Rent vs Buy Engine
Mortgage, equity, appreciation, and invested-savings simulation.
Decision Header
Recommended path, confidence level, and best-fit explanation.
Life Path Arena
Side-by-side Rent and Buy cards.
Break-Even Timeline
Visual timeline of when each path wins.
Monthly Cost Stack
True monthly cost breakdown for each path.
Wealth Timeline
Net worth over time for renter versus buyer.
Scenario Controller
Live sliders for rate, down payment, appreciation, rent growth, and more.
Refinance & Cash-Out SimulatorRefinance & Cash-Out
Models refinance savings and cash-out potential.
Life Path Score
0-100 score across affordability, wealth, flexibility, risk, and timeline.
Meters & Milestone Badges
Equity, flexibility, and risk meters with unlockable badges.
Opportunity Cards
What-if scenarios like rates dropping, rent rising, or selling in 5 years.
Pro/Con Decision Panel
Plain-language pros and cons for each path.
Scenario Builder
Save and compare multiple scenarios.

How it works

Choose Market Mode or Property Mode
Enter monthly rent or home price, down payment, rate, and years staying
See an instant rent-vs-buy comparison and winner
Adjust assumptions with live scenario controls
Explore prebuilt what-if scenario cards
Read the plain-language decision summary and pros and cons

How the score works

Life Path Score

Affordability
How comfortably the path fits the budget.
Wealth upside
Long-term net worth potential of the path.
Flexibility
Freedom to move or change plans.
Risk
Sensitivity to rate, appreciation, and rent changes.
Timeline fit
How well the path suits the expected stay.
Cash required
Upfront cash the path demands.
Refinance optionality
Future refinance and cash-out potential.

Key screens

Decision Header
Life Path Arena
Break-Even Timeline
Monthly Cost Stack
Scenario Controller
Wealth Timeline
Opportunity Cards
Pro/Con Decision Panel

Data model

User
ComparisonProject
Scenario
RentAssumptions
BuyAssumptions
ProjectionResult
MonthlyProjection
Achievement

Screens · 3

Rent vs Buy comparison result: buying stronger over 15 years, rent score 44 vs buy score 56, with side-by-side projected net position cards. — Comparison result

Rent vs Buy inputs for down payment, interest rate, loan term, and monthly rent, with milestone cards and a monthly cost breakdown by category. — Assumptions and milestones

Rent vs Buy detail with property entry form, break-even at Year 9, flexibility and risk scores, and a projected net position line chart. — Break-even and projection

How it is built

A client-side Next.js and React application. The rent-vs-buy engine is isolated TypeScript that runs in the browser and updates projections live as inputs change; optional market and property data come from configurable external APIs.

Classification

Industries: Real Estate
Capabilities: Financial Modeling Dashboards
Technologies: Next.js React TypeScript Tailwind CSS

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