Quick answer
At current rates, renting wins over the full 30-year horizon in Fort Lauderdale. Monthly ownership cost $4,401 (vs $$2,800/mo rent) plus FL's 0.98% property tax make the math tough.
Rent vs Buy · FL
Rent vs Buy in Fort Lauderdale (2026)
Real math using FL's 0.98% property tax rate, $7,500/year average insurance, and a 6.8% 30-year fixed mortgage. Accounts for opportunity cost — what the down payment would earn invested at 7%.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Verdict at current rates
Renting wins (30-year horizon)
In Fort Lauderdale at FL's tax rates and current 6.8% mortgages, keeping the down payment invested at 7% beats homeownership even after 30 years. The standard advice "buy to build equity" doesn't apply here at today's price-to-rent ratio.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Buying
$4,401/mo
Mortgage P&I
$440,000 loan, 30yr @ 6.8%
$2,868
Property tax
0.98% of assessed (FL avg)
$449
Homeowners insurance
$7,500/yr FL avg
$625
Maintenance
1%/yr of home value
$458
Cash at close: ~$123,750 ($20% down + fees)
Renting
$2,800/mo
2BR rent (median)
Fort Lauderdale market rate
$2,800
Renters insurance
~$15/mo typical
$15
Down payment invested
$110,000 growing at 7%/yr
(opportunity cost)
Monthly gap: $1,601 cheaper than buying. Renter invests that difference.
Year-by-Year Net Position
"Buy wins by" = what you'd clear selling the home minus what the renter has in investments. Positive = buy ahead.
| Year | Home value | Buyer equity (net) | Renter portfolio (net) | Buy wins by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | $637,601 | $-194,461 | +$81,337 | $-275,799 |
| Year 10 | $739,154 | $-309,291 | +$69,800 | $-379,091 |
| Year 15 | $856,882 | $-396,672 | +$86,848 | $-483,519 |
| Year 30 | $1,334,994 | $-350,167 | +$520,543 | $-870,709 |
Assumptions
Every rent-vs-buy calculator depends on the assumptions. Here are ours — all transparent, none cherry-picked to bias the answer.
This is a rule-of-thumb calculator. Real decisions involve your specific tax bracket, any HOA, mortgage points, closing-cost negotiations, and exact loan terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to rent or buy in Fort Lauderdale?
In Fort Lauderdale at current mortgage rates (6.8%), renting and investing the down payment beats buying for the full 30-year horizon. Median monthly ownership costs ($4,401) well exceed median 2BR rent ($2,800), and FL's 0.98% property tax makes the math especially tough.
What's the monthly cost of owning a home in Fort Lauderdale?
On a median $550K home with 20% down at 6.8% fixed rate: mortgage P&I $2,868, property tax $449 (0.98% of assessed value), homeowners insurance $625 (FL average $7,500/year), and maintenance $458 (1% of home value/year). Total: $4,401/month.
How much down payment do I need to buy in Fort Lauderdale?
20% down on a median Fort Lauderdale home ($550K) is $110,000. Plus closing costs of roughly 2.5% ($13,750). Total cash-to-close: about $123,750. FHA loans allow 3.5% down ($19,250) but require mortgage insurance that adds ~$214/month.
What's the 10-year cost of renting vs buying in Fort Lauderdale?
Over 10 years in Fort Lauderdale: renters pay $385,186 in cumulative rent but have $454,986 invested (assuming 7% return on the $110,000 down payment + monthly savings). Buyers have paid $628,316 in total ownership costs and hold $363,375 in home equity. Net: renting is ahead by $379,091 at year 10.