Available on iOS

The real math behind rent vs. buy

Not a guess. Not a sales pitch. Roby models renting + investing versus buying a home with state-specific data and honest numbers.

Download for iPhone
Net Position
Buy
Rent + Invest
Year 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Break-even: Year 8
The two paths

Roby models both sides honestly

Most calculators only show one scenario. Roby runs both in parallel so you can see the real trade-offs.

Buying

  • Mortgage principal & interest
  • Property taxes & insurance
  • Maintenance & HOA fees
  • PMI / MIP / VA funding fees
  • Closing & selling costs
  • Home equity growth over time
  • Tax deductions on interest
VS

Renting + Investing

  • Monthly rent with annual increases
  • Down payment invested in market
  • Closing costs invested instead
  • Monthly savings invested
  • Compound investment returns
  • No maintenance or property tax
  • Full flexibility to relocate
50
State-specific datasets
30yr
Year-by-year projections
0
Data collected
Features

Everything the spreadsheet
forgot to include

The details that actually change the answer.

Break-even analysis

Find the exact year buying overtakes renting, and the mortgage rate where both options produce equal outcomes.

State-specific defaults

Property tax rates, insurance costs, and median home prices for all 50 states auto-filled from real data sources.

Investment modeling

See what happens when you invest the down payment, closing costs, and monthly savings instead of buying. Compound returns over 30 years.

Explain It mode

Deep-dive breakdowns: where your payment goes each month, hidden costs, equity vs. investment growth, and the levers that change the outcome.

Every loan type

Conventional, FHA, and VA with accurate PMI removal at 20% equity, permanent MIP for FHA, and VA funding fees. 15, 20, or 30-year terms.

Real dollar toggle

Switch between nominal and inflation-adjusted values to see your true purchasing power over time. Because $500k in 2056 isn't $500k today.

Roby is a financial illustration tool. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. All calculations are estimates based on the inputs you provide. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.