{
  "study": "Five-year home-appreciation and selling-cost sensitivity",
  "version": 1,
  "calculatedOn": "2026-10-04",
  "articlePath": "/blog/nyt-rent-vs-buy-calculator-wrong",
  "model": "Smart Rent or Buy existing rent-versus-buy engine",
  "units": {
    "money": "USD, nominal cumulative net cost at year five",
    "rates": "percentage points: 4 means 4%",
    "buyMinusRentUsd": "Buying net cost minus renting net cost; positive favors renting, negative favors buying"
  },
  "scope": "Nine illustrative scenarios. Not market estimates, forecasts, probabilities, confidence intervals or NYT calculator results.",
  "baselineInputs": {
    "homePrice": 500000,
    "monthlyRent": 2500,
    "downPaymentPercent": 20,
    "interestRate": 6.5,
    "loanTerm": 30,
    "yearsToStay": 5,
    "zipCode": "",
    "annualIncome": 100000,
    "buyingClosingCostsPercent": 3,
    "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 6,
    "propertyTaxRate": 1.2,
    "homeInsuranceRate": 0.5,
    "hoaFeesMonthly": 0,
    "maintenanceRate": 1,
    "utilitiesExtraMonthly": 100,
    "pmiRate": 0.5,
    "homeAppreciationRate": 4,
    "securityDepositMonths": 1,
    "brokerFeePercent": 0,
    "renterInsuranceMonthly": 20,
    "rentIncreaseRate": 3,
    "parkingFeeMonthly": 0,
    "filingStatus": "single",
    "marginalTaxRate": 22,
    "stateTaxRate": 5,
    "standardDeduction": 14600,
    "otherItemizedDeductions": 0,
    "capitalGainsTaxRate": 15,
    "investmentReturnRate": 6,
    "inflationRate": 3,
    "movingCosts": 2000,
    "furnitureCosts": 0,
    "repairCosts": 0
  },
  "variedInputs": [
    "homeAppreciationRate",
    "sellingClosingCostsPercent"
  ],
  "method": "For each row, override those two baseline inputs, run the same engine, and read the year-five result. All other inputs remain fixed. Full precision is retained here; the article rounds to whole dollars.",
  "limitations": [
    "Tax settings are fixed illustrative model assumptions, not current tax law or eligibility advice. The model uses simplified deduction caps and home-sale exclusions.",
    "Assumes the cheaper annual housing option invests the cash-flow difference, and the renter invests unused upfront capital.",
    "Growth and investment returns are hypothetical constants. No local market estimates, affordability decision, transaction quote or personal-value assessment is provided.",
    "Net cost includes money paid in, including invested savings, minus ending assets. Buying ending assets include modeled net sale proceeds and investments; renting ending assets include investments and the returned deposit."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-some-of-the-financial-considerations-of-buying-a-home-en-119/",
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-04",
      "supports": "Transaction costs, ongoing owner costs and risks of a short stay, not the chosen rates or outputs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home/prepare/determine-your-down-payment/",
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-04",
      "supports": "Distinction between closing costs and down payment, not the chosen rates or outputs"
    }
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 0,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 3,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 213349.38361556252,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114763.06948620646,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 98586.31412935606
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 0,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 6,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 228349.38361556252,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114763.06948620646,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 113586.31412935606
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 0,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 9,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 243349.38361556252,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114763.06948620646,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 128586.31412935606
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 2,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 3,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 165355.40321236243,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114452.74958988643,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 50902.653622476006
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 2,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 6,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 181916.61526036245,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114452.74958988643,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 67463.86567047602
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 2,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 9,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 198477.82730836247,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114452.74958988643,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 84025.07771847604
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 4,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 3,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 113343.53473236249,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114133.23330636648,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": -789.6985740039963
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 4,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 6,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 131593.32826836256,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114133.23330636648,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 17460.094961996074
    },
    {
      "homeAppreciationRate": 4,
      "sellingClosingCostsPercent": 9,
      "buyNetCostUsd": 149843.1218043625,
      "rentNetCostUsd": 114133.23330636648,
      "buyMinusRentUsd": 35709.88849799603
    }
  ]
}