Texas Buyer Tool
Texas Rent vs. Buy
A full lifetime comparison including appreciation, equity build, selling costs, and the opportunity cost of investing your down payment instead.
Your inputs
After 7 years, renting wins by
$25,469
Renting + investing the down payment costs less here
Net cost of buying
$200,753
Costs minus equity at sale
Net cost of renting
$175,283
Rent minus invested DP gain
Home value after sale
$430,456
Equity at sale (net)
$114,343
After ~7% selling costs
Rule of thumb in Texas: Buying typically pulls ahead at 5–7 years of ownership. The Texas $100k homestead exemption and absence of state income tax shift the math in buyers' favor versus most other states.
Assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage, 7% combined selling costs, and a 5% investment return on the down payment if renting. Tax benefits from mortgage interest deduction are not included — they reduce net buy cost further for itemizing buyers.