Renting or buying — which actually makes sense for you right now?

It’s one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and the answer depends on more than just the weekly numbers. Run yours here to see where you stand.

Should you buy, keep renting, or rentvest?

The decision to buy or keep renting is rarely straightforward — and for many people, there is a third option worth considering: rentvesting.

This tool helps you compare the real monthly cost of buying against what you currently pay in rent, model how equity builds over time, and explore what rentvesting might look like for your situation. Use it as a starting point, then speak with a broker to understand what actually makes sense for you.

General guide only

Covers standard residential loans only – not commercial, SMSF, or specialist products. All figures are estimates; lender policies, tax outcomes, and market conditions vary. A mortgage broker can give you a complete picture based on your circumstances.

Your situation

Your current weekly rent

Please enter a valid weekly rent.

Savings / deposit available

Please enter a valid amount.

Target purchase price

Please enter a valid price.

First home buyer?

Purpose

The buying vs renting comparison is most relevant for owner-occupiers. For investors, the rentvesting section below is more useful – it models owning an investment property while you continue to rent.

Interest rate % p.a.

Loan term years

Council rates $ per year

Strata / insurance $ per year

Maintenance % of value p.a.

PPOR growth % p.a.

IP growth % p.a.

Share / ETF return % p.a.

Annual rent increase % p.a.

Buying in a company or trust?

Buying in a company or trust carries additional tax considerations – land tax thresholds differ, companies cannot access the 50% CGT discount, and stamp duty surcharges may apply. Seek professional legal and tax advice.

Inputs changed – press Calculate to update your results.

All figures are estimates only. They do not account for inflation, tax effects, interest rate changes, or market fluctuations.

Monthly cost: buying vs renting

Mortgage repayment (P&I)

–

per month

Ownership costs

–

per month (council + strata + maintenance)

Total buying cost per month –

Your current rent per month –

Monthly difference –

Deposit readiness

–

Estimated upfront costs (stamp duty, legals, misc): –.

Buying your home: loan balance vs equity over time

As you make repayments and the property grows in value, your loan falls while equity rises. Estimates only.

Remaining loan

Equity (value − loan)

Assumes 6% p.a. capital growth. Does not include CGT, selling costs, or inflation.

At 3 years

Property value–

Equity–

At 10 years

Property value–

Equity–

At loan term (full payoff)

Property value–

Equity (pre-tax • CGT-exempt as PPOR)–

Loan – at – p.a. over 30 years. Growth assumed at 6% p.a. Your PPOR is generally CGT-exempt on sale.

Have you considered rentvesting?

What is rentvesting? Renting where you want to live while buying an investment property elsewhere. You enter the market sooner, stay geographically flexible, and build equity using leverage and rental income – which can later fund a PPOR deposit.

Investment property price auto-fills from above

Gross rental yield % of IP price p.a.

Adjust the investment property price or yield above and the rentvesting comparison below updates automatically.

Month 1 comparison: buying your PPOR vs rentvesting

Buy your PPOR

–

out-of-pocket per month

Mortgage repayment–

Ownership costs–

Rental incomeNone — you live there

✓ CGT-exempt on sale • Stability • No ongoing rent

Rentvest

–

net out-of-pocket per month (yr 1, pre-tax)

IP mortgage–

IP ownership costs–

Rental income received–

Your rent paid–

CGT on IP sale • Geographic flexibility • Neg. gearing may apply

–

What this means

–

⚠ Illustrative tax note (not advice)

–

vs renting only

–

Long-term wealth: PPOR equity vs rentvesting total

Both scenarios start with the same deposit. The rentvesting line combines IP equity plus the monthly difference in out-of-pocket cost (vs the PPOR buyer) invested at the assumed share return. This makes the comparison like-for-like.

PPOR equity (value − loan)

Rentvesting total wealth (IP equity + invested savings)

–

Rentvesting: IP loan vs ownership stake over time

Remaining IP loan

IP ownership stake (value − loan)

IP growth at 7% p.a. All pre-tax estimates.

At 3 years

IP value–

IP ownership stake–

At 10 years

IP value–

IP ownership stake–

At loan term

IP value–

IP stake (CGT applies on sale)–

Total wealth (IP stake + invested savings)–

10-year picture (estimates only)

IP value–

IP ownership stake–

Cumulative holding cost (pre-tax)–

This equity is not locked away. It can be accessed via refinancing as a deposit on a PPOR or for another investment. A broker can confirm how much may be accessible at each stage.

IP price – • Yield – p.a. (growing 4%/yr) • IP growth – p.a. • Loan at – • Your rent grows – p.a. • Monthly saving vs PPOR invested at – p.a. • Does not model negative gearing, depreciation, CGT, or other tax effects.

Want to talk through your options?

Every situation is different. A quick conversation can help you understand which path makes the most sense for your circumstances.

Book a free 15‑minute call →

Disclaimer — General information only; not financial, legal, or tax advice. Figures are estimates based on inputs entered and do not account for changes in interest rates, market conditions, government policies, or individual circumstances. Seek advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

Default assumptions last reviewed: February 2026. Growth, return, and rate assumptions are illustrative – adjust them in Advanced options to match your own view.

Numbers looking about right? A free call turns this estimate into a real plan for your situation.

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