Renting Versus Owning Analysis

Adkins Capital Management LLC  •  Research
Renting Versus Owning Analysis
Financial Case Study  ·  10-Year Horizon  ·  Wealth-Building Comparison
10Year Horizon
5Key Decision Factors
3Scenario Models
A rigorous financial case study challenging the conventional assumption that homeownership is always the superior wealth-building strategy.

Presentation Abstract

This presentation offers a rigorous financial case study comparing the outcomes of renting versus buying a home over a 10-year horizon. It challenges the conventional assumption that homeownership is always the superior wealth-building strategy by explicitly accounting for the often-overlooked carrying costs of owning a home, as well as the opportunity cost of forgoing investment returns on the monthly savings typically enjoyed by renters.

The core finding demonstrates that, under base-case assumptions, renting and consistently reinvesting the monthly cost advantage can yield a material net worth benefit, while also providing greater liquidity and career flexibility. Through detailed cash flow modeling, sensitivity matrices, and an examination of five key decision factors, the presentation concludes that the rent-versus-buy decision is not a universal truth, but rather a function of local market conditions, investment discipline, and individual circumstances.

Five Key Decision Factors

01
True Cost of Ownership
Beyond the mortgage payment — property taxes, insurance, maintenance, PMI, and closing costs that most buyers underestimate.
02
Opportunity Cost of Capital
The monthly savings renters enjoy can be invested in diversified assets. This forgone return is rarely factored into the buy decision.
03
Cash Flow Modeling
Detailed year-by-year comparison of net cash positions for renter and buyer across base, bull, and bear market scenarios.
04
Sensitivity Analysis
How changes in mortgage rates, home appreciation, rent inflation, and investment returns shift the break-even point.
05
Liquidity & Flexibility
The non-financial value of maintaining liquidity, career mobility, and the ability to respond to life changes without a forced sale.

Watch the Full Presentation

The video below presents the complete Renting vs. Buying financial analysis. Troy Morris Adkins walks through the methodology, assumptions, cash flow models, and key conclusions of this study.

Renting vs. Buying — A Financial Case Study
Presented by Troy Morris Adkins  •  Adkins Capital Management LLC  •  Watch on YouTube →
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