Realtor Buy vs Rent Calculator

This Apify actor performs comprehensive rent vs buy financial analysis across multiple locations to help you make informed housing decisions.

Features

• ✅ Compare renting vs buying for multiple locations
• ✅ Comprehensive financial modeling
• ✅ Tax implications and deductions
• ✅ Long-term cost projections
• ✅ Break-even analysis
• ✅ Opportunity cost calculations
• ✅ Customizable assumptions (appreciation, inflation, etc.)
• ✅ Async processing for better performance
• ✅ Immediate data push (results available as they're fetched)

Input Parameters

Required Parameters

{
  "locations": ["New York, NY", "San Francisco, CA"],
  "price": 500000,
  "down_payment": 100000,
  "rent": 2500
}

All Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description	Default
locations	array	Yes	List of locations for analysis	-
price	integer	Yes	Home purchase price	-
down_payment	integer	Yes	Down payment amount	-
rent	integer	Yes	Monthly rent amount	-
annual_property_tax	number	No	Property tax as % of home value	Location-based
broker_fee	number	No	Real estate broker fee %	Location-based
buying_closing_cost	number	No	Buying closing costs %	Location-based
selling_closing_cost	number	No	Selling closing costs %	Location-based
rate	number	No	Mortgage interest rate %	Market rate
inflation_rate	number	No	Annual inflation rate %	2.5
income_tax_rate	number	No	Your income tax rate %	25
monthly_hoi	number	No	Monthly home insurance	Calculated
additional_monthly_utilities	number	No	Extra utilities for homeowners	100
monthly_renter_insurance	number	No	Monthly renters insurance	20
hoa	number	No	Monthly HOA/condo fees	0
rent_appreciation	number	No	Annual rent increase %	3
home_appreciation	number	No	Annual home value increase %	3.5
investment_ror	number	No	Alternative investment return %	7
avg_monthly_maintenance	integer	No	Monthly home maintenance	Calculated
rent_deposit	integer	No	Security deposit for renting	1 month rent
capital_gains_exclusion	integer	No	Capital gains exclusion	250000
mortgage_term	integer	No	Mortgage term in years	30
is_veteran	boolean	No	Veteran status	false

Output

The actor outputs comprehensive analysis data:

{
  "location": "New York, NY",
  "summary": {
    "better_option": "buy",
    "net_difference_5_years": 45000,
    "net_difference_10_years": 120000,
    "break_even_years": 3.5
  },
  "buying": {
    "monthly_payment": 3200,
    "total_cost_5_years": 215000,
    "total_cost_10_years": 385000,
    "equity_built_5_years": 65000,
    "equity_built_10_years": 185000,
    "tax_savings_5_years": 25000,
    "tax_savings_10_years": 45000
  },
  "renting": {
    "monthly_rent": 2500,
    "total_cost_5_years": 162000,
    "total_cost_10_years": 345000,
    "opportunity_cost_5_years": 98000,
    "opportunity_cost_10_years": 160000
  },
  "breakdown": {
    "down_payment": 100000,
    "closing_costs": 15000,
    "monthly_principal_interest": 2148,
    "monthly_property_tax": 729,
    "monthly_insurance": 150,
    "monthly_hoa": 0,
    "monthly_maintenance": 173,
    "total_monthly_ownership": 3200
  }
}

Usage Example

Via Apify Console

{
  "locations": ["New York, NY", "Miami, FL", "Austin, TX"],
  "price": 600000,
  "down_payment": 120000,
  "rent": 3000,
  "rate": 6.5,
  "home_appreciation": 4.0,
  "rent_appreciation": 3.5,
  "mortgage_term": 30,
  "income_tax_rate": 32
}

Use Cases

Compare Housing Costs Across Cities

{
  "locations": ["San Francisco, CA", "Austin, TX", "Denver, CO"],
  "price": 800000,
  "down_payment": 160000,
  "rent": 3500
}

High-Income Tax Planning

{
  "locations": ["New York, NY"],
  "price": 1000000,
  "down_payment": 200000,
  "rent": 5000,
  "income_tax_rate": 40,
  "rate": 6.5
}

Veteran Benefits Analysis

{
  "locations": ["San Diego, CA"],
  "price": 650000,
  "down_payment": 0,
  "rent": 2800,
  "is_veteran": true
}

Investment Opportunity Cost

{
  "locations": ["Boston, MA"],
  "price": 700000,
  "down_payment": 140000,
  "rent": 3200,
  "investment_ror": 10,
  "home_appreciation": 3
}

Key Metrics Explained

• Better Option: Whether renting or buying is more financially advantageous
• Net Difference: Total financial difference over time periods
• Break-Even Years: How long until buying becomes cheaper than renting
• Equity Built: Home equity accumulated over time
• Tax Savings: Mortgage interest and property tax deductions
• Opportunity Cost: Returns from investing down payment instead of buying

Financial Considerations

The analysis includes:

• Mortgage payments (principal + interest)
• Property taxes
• Home insurance
• HOA fees
• Maintenance costs
• Closing costs (buying and selling)
• Tax deductions
• Home appreciation
• Rent increases
• Opportunity cost of down payment
• Capital gains taxes

Tips for Accurate Analysis

1. Use realistic appreciation rates: Research historical data for your area
2. Include all costs: Don't forget HOA, maintenance, and utilities
3. Consider tax benefits: Mortgage interest deduction varies by tax bracket
4. Factor in mobility: Buying makes more sense if staying 5+ years
5. Compare multiple locations: Different areas have vastly different economics

Error Handling

• Missing required parameters are caught and reported
• API errors are logged with detailed messages
• Failed calculations for specific locations don't stop other locations
• All parameters are validated before API calls