Rent vs Buy a Home: Who Really Wins After 30 Years?

Is renting really "throwing money away"? We ran the numbers on two friends, Ryan and Marcus, over 30 years. Same salary, same $80,000 saved, two different paths. In this video, you'll learn: ✅ The full monthly cost of owning (mortgage, property tax, insurance, maintenance) ✅ How a renter can invest the difference, and why the gap shrinks over time ✅ Closing costs and selling costs that don't show up on the listing ✅ When buying pulls ahead, and why it takes about 20 years in our example ✅ How small changes in returns, home prices, or rent growth can flip the winner ✅ The price-to-rent ratio and four questions to ask before you decide ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – Is rent really throwing money away? 02:54 – Ryan buys, Marcus rents and invests 05:54 – The hidden costs of buying and selling 08:51 – Year 15 to year 30, and what flips the result 12:03 – Recap and the four questions to ask yourself 💬 Are you renting or buying right now? What's the price-to-rent ratio where you live? Tell us in the comments. 👍 If this helped, like and subscribe for more simple money breakdowns. 📌 About the numbers: This is a simplified example. We assumed a $400,000 home, 20% down, a 30-year mortgage at 6.5%, rent starting at $2,200 and rising 3% a year, home values rising 3% a year, and a 7% average investment return. We ignored income taxes, including the mortgage interest deduction, the home sale tax exclusion, and taxes on investment gains. Your results will differ. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not financial advice. Ryan and Marcus are fictional characters. Please talk to a licensed financial professional before making any decision about buying or renting a home. #RentVsBuy #Mortgage #PersonalFinance #HomeBuying #MoneyMath