Buy with a mortgage or continue renting?
The comparison for homeowners is almost always "mortgage payment versus rent," and that's why buying almost always comes out on top. Three things are missing: The fee is not the cost of buyingthe advance has an opportunity cost and the deed It is divided among the years you stayHere's the account with all three inside.
Still don't know where? The neighborhood advisor It tells you which ones you can afford to rent or buy, with the installment and rent for each.
This calculation compares the cost of maintaining each option with today's figures. It doesn't project how much the property will be worth or how much the rent will increase, because any appreciation rate we included would be an opinion disguised as data. If you're betting that the property will appreciate, that's your investment, and it's best to be explicit about it.
The comparator
Put in your numbers. The amounts are all in the same currency: if you're thinking of the price in dollars, the rent and expenses should be too.
1.160
800
| Amount financed | 120.000 |
| Loan installment | 860 |
| Interest on the first installment | 69.79 % |
| Opportunity cost of the advance | 100 |
| Contribution, commons and maintenance | 200 |
Why the debt doesn't seem to be going down
From the first installment, 69.79% goes to interest and the rest pays down the principal. In the French system, that proportion reverses over the years, but at first, the feeling of paying and the balance not changing is not just an impression: it's how the table works.
The four costs that the household bill forgets
The fee is not the cost of buying
In addition to the loan, you have to pay property taxes, common expenses, and maintenance. The landlord pays for that, not the tenant.
The advance payment has an opportunity cost
That money could be earning more elsewhere. Ignoring this is what makes it seem like buying always wins: the down payment isn't free just because it's "invested in real estate."
The deed registration fee is spread over the years you stay
These are one-time expenses. If you leave after three years, they're spread over 36 months; if you stay for fifteen, over 180. That's why buying to move out soon almost never makes sense.
At first the installment barely covers the cost
In the French system, the first few years are mostly spent on interest. The feeling of "paying but the debt doesn't go down" isn't just an impression: it's how the system works.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How is the account calculated?
The installment is calculated using the French amortization method on the financed amount. The purchase price is supplemented by property taxes, common expenses, maintenance, and the opportunity cost of the down payment based on the interest rate you specify. The closing costs are not included in the monthly payment; they are amortized through the monthly interest rate, which determines the total number of years needed to pay it off. The non-negotiable portion of this amount is the property tax. ITP of 2% The buyer pays this amount, calculated based on the cadastral value, not the price. Model revised on August 10, 2026. The site provides all the figures; you provide them all.