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 json { "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: json { "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 json { "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 json { "locations": ["San Francisco, CA", "Austin, TX", "Denver, CO"], "price": 800000, "down_payment": 160000, "rent": 3500 } ### High-Income Tax Planning json { "locations": ["New York, NY"], "price": 1000000, "down_payment": 200000, "rent": 5000, "income_tax_rate": 40, "rate": 6.5 } ### Veteran Benefits Analysis json { "locations": ["San Diego, CA"], "price": 650000, "down_payment": 0, "rent": 2800, "is_veteran": true } ### Investment Opportunity Cost json { "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