Build vs Buy
Should you build a brand-new home or buy an existing one? Compare the two side by side over your time horizon — accounting for buying costs, higher maintenance on an older home, construction cost overruns, council fees and paying to live elsewhere while a new build is underway. Everything stays in your browser.
Your situation
Applied equally to both paths
🏡 Buy an existing home
Legal, inspection, moving
Of home value, per year
🏗️ Build a new home
Contingency on construction
Council, design, connections
Finished value vs money spent
Of home value, per year
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The Two Paths
Projected net position
- Cash needed upfront
- $162,750
- Home value at horizon
- $1,547,256
- Mortgage remaining
- $507,914
- Total cash spent
- $826,247
Projected net position
- Cash needed upfront
- $185,000
- Home value at horizon
- $1,643,663
- Mortgage remaining
- $561,202
- Total cash spent
- $809,912
Net Position Over Time
Net position is your home equity (value minus mortgage) less every non-equity dollar spent along the way — interest, maintenance, rent while building and one-off costs. Higher is better. The build line dips early (rent and interest with no home yet) then jumps when the build completes.
Key Findings
Better financial choice
Build New
Based on projected net position at your horizon
Net position gap
$59,453
Difference between the two paths at your horizon
Extra cash to start a build
$22,250
Upfront cash for building vs buying (deposit + one-off costs)
Total cash spent (build)
$809,912
Interest, maintenance, rent-while-building and one-off costs
Our Recommendation
Building comes out ahead by about $59,453 over 15 years, once buying costs, maintenance, cost overruns and paying to live elsewhere during a build are all accounted for.
Informational only, not financial advice. Figures are pre-tax estimates and don't account for market volatility, build delays beyond the time you enter, or your personal tax situation. Build costs in particular vary widely — use your own quotes.