The New York Times buy vs rent calculator[0] can help determine which side of the rent vs buy is better (from a financial standpoint only, not including factors

The New York Times buy vs rent calculator[0] can help determine which side of the rent vs buy is better (from a financial standpoint only, not including factors like 'freedom') depending upon various factors. For example, here in Oregon based on all of the factors I adjusted, the result was "If you can rent a similar home for less than $1,422 per month then renting is better.". I could probably break even by moving to a different location, but then (for me) the freedom factor pushes it back towards home ownership. So you put your own assumptions in, and that can give you a good idea of where your own situation results. Its never clear to me how you invest the mortgage payment and also pay rent to live somewhere. As a direct response to this, the calculator will actually show what the expected costs are assuming you invest any difference between the rent vs mortgage in a vehicle with the specified returns (and over the time period you specify) [0] - http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calculator.html http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calc...?