Quick answer
At current rates, renting wins over the full 30-year horizon in Fort Worth. Monthly ownership cost $2,912 (vs $$1,620/mo rent) plus TX's 1.90% property tax make the math tough.
Rent vs Buy · TX
Rent vs Buy in Fort Worth (2026)
Real math using TX's 1.90% property tax rate, $3,800/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 Worth at TX'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
$2,912/mo
Mortgage P&I
$272,000 loan, 30yr @ 6.8%
$1,773
Property tax
1.90% of assessed (TX avg)
$538
Homeowners insurance
$3,800/yr TX avg
$317
Maintenance
1%/yr of home value
$283
Cash at close: ~$76,500 ($20% down + fees)
Renting
$1,620/mo
2BR rent (median)
Fort Worth market rate
$1,620
Renters insurance
~$15/mo typical
$15
Down payment invested
$68,000 growing at 7%/yr
(opportunity cost)
Monthly gap: $1,292 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 | $394,153 | $-132,379 | +$79,379 | $-211,758 |
| Year 10 | $456,932 | $-217,469 | +$114,849 | $-332,318 |
| Year 15 | $529,709 | $-287,837 | +$187,214 | $-475,051 |
| Year 30 | $825,269 | $-325,492 | +$853,552 | $-1,179,044 |
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 Worth?
In Fort Worth at current mortgage rates (6.8%), renting and investing the down payment beats buying for the full 30-year horizon. Median monthly ownership costs ($2,912) well exceed median 2BR rent ($1,620), and TX's 1.90% property tax makes the math especially tough.
What's the monthly cost of owning a home in Fort Worth?
On a median $340K home with 20% down at 6.8% fixed rate: mortgage P&I $1,773, property tax $538 (1.90% of assessed value), homeowners insurance $317 (TX average $3,800/year), and maintenance $283 (1% of home value/year). Total: $2,912/month.
How much down payment do I need to buy in Fort Worth?
20% down on a median Fort Worth home ($340K) is $68,000. Plus closing costs of roughly 2.5% ($8,500). Total cash-to-close: about $76,500. FHA loans allow 3.5% down ($11,900) but require mortgage insurance that adds ~$132/month.
What's the 10-year cost of renting vs buying in Fort Worth?
Over 10 years in Fort Worth: renters pay $222,858 in cumulative rent but have $337,707 invested (assuming 7% return on the $68,000 down payment + monthly savings). Buyers have paid $414,685 in total ownership costs and hold $224,632 in home equity. Net: renting is ahead by $332,318 at year 10.