Moving to Tucson
Rent or buy, for your stay
Whether renting or buying comes out ahead for the years you will actually be here, with the costs people forget included.
Behind the numbers
How it works
Buying
A 30-year mortgage on the price minus your down payment. Each month: your payment, plus taxes and insurance at 1.1% of the price per year, plus upkeep at 1% of the home’s value per year. Buying costs of 3% up front.
Selling at the end
When you leave, the home is sold at its grown value minus 7% selling costs, and what you still owe is paid off. What is left is your equity.
Renting
Your rent, rising 3% a year.
The comparison
For each year, the net cost of buying (everything spent, minus what you walk away with) against total rent paid. The verdict is for your stay; the chart shows when buying starts to win.
Adjust it
What each input means
| Reason for moving | Military, residency, university, new job or retiring; each sets a sensible starting point. |
|---|---|
| Years you will be here | 1 to 30. |
| Home price, down payment, rate | Your numbers; confirm rate and down payment with a lender. |
| Rent | For a similar home. |
| Home value change | Your assumption, per year. |
When to use it
Made for
- Military orders or a residency with a known end date
- Deciding whether to buy now or rent first
- Comparing scenarios before a scouting trip
Moving to Tucson
Military orders, a medical residency, the University, a new job or retirement: plan the move from where you are, with real rent-or-buy numbers for your stay and homes lined up before you fly in.
- Rent or buy
- Find your area
- Backyard sun (optional)
- Your search
- Your plan
Questions
Good to know
Why does a short stay favor renting?+
Buying and selling costs (3% and 7% here) are paid once each. Over a short stay, there is less time for equity to make up for them.
Does it include tax effects?+
No. It is a planning comparison. Ask a tax professional about deductions and capital gains.
Keep planning
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