Interactive Tool

Build vs Buy Cost Calculator

Estimate the 25-year total cost of building new vs buying resale. Adjust the sliders to match your scenario.

Not financial advice. This calculator is a simplified educational tool based on generalized assumptions. It does not account for all variables affecting home ownership costs. Do your own research and consult qualified professionals (financial advisor, CPA, real estate attorney, licensed contractor) before making any financial or real estate decisions. Full disclaimer.

Your Assumptions

$400,000
20 yrs
0 = new build comparison baseline
$2,500
8%
2.5%
25 yrs

Results

New Build Total Cost $0
Resale Total Cost $0
Cost Gap (Resale Premium) $0

Breakdown by Category

Maintenance
New: $0 Resale: $0
Insurance
New: $0 Resale: $0
Capital Expenditure
New: $0 Resale: $0
Opportunity Cost
New: $0 Resale: $0

Simplified model. See Chapter 5 of The Resale Trap for the full 25-year cost methodology with all assumptions and sensitivity analysis.

See the Full Math

The calculator above is a simplified model. The book runs the complete 25-year analysis across all 50 states with institutional data sources.

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