Whether to rent or buy depends less on market headlines and more on three personal numbers: how long you will stay, how much you can put down, and what the same home rents for.
1. The 5-year rule
Buying costs money up front — stamp duty, registration, brokerage and interiors. If you are likely to move within five years, renting usually wins.
2. The price-to-rent ratio
Divide the purchase price by one year of rent for a similar home. Below 20, buying tends to make sense; above 30, renting and investing the difference is often better.
3. Your EMI vs today’s rent
Use our EMI calculator to compare the monthly instalment with your current rent. If the gap is small and your job is stable, ownership builds equity instead of paying a landlord.