Rent vs. Buy Calculator for Southwest Florida
Should you keep renting or buy? Compare the true cost of both over time, including equity, appreciation, taxes, insurance and selling costs.
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Ready to see what you could own?
John will send homes where the payment is close to your rent, plus builder incentives that lower your rate.
Estimate only. Buying includes down payment, 3% closing, 1% yearly upkeep and 7% selling costs, minus your equity at sale.
Rent vs buy questions
Is it better to rent or buy in Southwest Florida?
It depends mostly on how long you will stay. Over a few years, renting is often cheaper. The longer you stay, the more buying usually wins as you build equity and your payment stays fixed while rents rise.
What is the breakeven point?
It is the year when the net cost of owning drops below the total rent you would have paid. The calculator shows it for your numbers.
Can builder incentives change the math?
Yes. Rate buydowns and paid closing costs on new construction can move the breakeven point up by years. See the builder incentives page.
Should you rent or buy in Southwest Florida?
The answer usually comes down to how long you plan to stay. Buying has upfront costs, like the down payment and closing costs, and selling costs at the end. Renting has none of those, but rent tends to rise every year and you build no equity. The longer you stay, the more time your home has to grow in value while your principal and interest payment stays the same.
In Estero and the rest of Lee County, new construction incentives can change the math a lot. Builders often buy down mortgage rates or pay closing costs, which can move your breakeven point up by years. Compare a few homes with John before you sign another lease.