Video Description

If you’ve ever been told “buying is always better,” this video runs the actual math for 2025 —property taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA, PMI, and today’s ~6.6% rates—across 3 parts of the US. I compare the cost to buy to renting and investing the difference over 30 years. Spoiler: it depends on the city, the home, and your behavior. Drop your city + property type + budget and I’ll consider it for a future video! What we cover: 👉🏻 How interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance & HOA shift the real cost to own 👉🏻 Why rent increases and “investing the difference” change the outcome 👉🏻 Sensitivity checks: extra principal payments and a 3% vs 6.6% rate world 👉🏻 City case studies: Cape Cod, Chicago, and Pittsburgh RENT vs. BUY CALCULATOR: https://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro, disclaimers & why this is nuanced 02:30 The plan: 3 cities & how the calculator works 04:30 Assumptions: down payment, PMI/HOA, taxes, 7% returns 06:20 Cape Cod overview (listings, inputs) 10:30 Cape Cod results: own vs rent + invest the difference 15:00 What “equity” forgets: sunk costs & rising taxes 16:10 Chicago overview (high property taxes + HOA) 18:40 Chicago results + extra principal payoff scenario 20:40 Rate sensitivity: 6.6% vs 3% changes everything 21:50 Pittsburgh overview & results + final takeaways/CTA BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES: 💸 Personal Finance Dashboard: https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard 💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template 💸 NEW FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template ✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter 📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book 👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-template FREE DOWNLOADS: 💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide ✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist ✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kit All Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links 👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/ 📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget 📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa 💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/