Rent vs buy in Flint, MI
Flint, Michigan has a typical rent of $927 /mo and a typical home value of $64,412.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $39k
With Flint's typical home value and rent, this assumes a 20% down payment and the mortgage rate available today. Break-even occurs in year 2.
An opinion, clearly labeled, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- How far owning leads
- $39k after 7 years
- The break-even point
- Year 2 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $691 /mo year 1, against $927 rent
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Flint's typical home value and rent form the basis of the stamp. The result can change with the rent, home price and number of years you choose.
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Enter your rent, home price and down payment. Those figures change the stamp.
Is buying or renting cheaper in Flint?
Over 7 years, buying is $39,394 cheaper after including the money you receive when you sell. In year 2, owning's net cost falls below renting's and stays lower.
The renting option The owning option Net cost up to each year
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Flint
At Flint's typical price, rent and mortgage payments don't cover every monthly cost in year 1. Here's the full list.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $927 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $351 | $310 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $111 | 2.07% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $85 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $54 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $601 | $42 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $105 | The amount the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $27 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $691 | Cash paid out, minus the equity part, plus the two entries above |
A look at the figures behind Flint's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $64,412
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $927 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Michigan, 1995 to 2025
- 3.8% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Flint
- 2.07% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Flint
- $85 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What could reverse the Flint result?
For Flint, each line marks where the 7-year verdict changes, while all other inputs stay the same.
When renting comes out ahead
- For a similar home, rent is less than $510 a month, compared with the typical $927 here.
- Your move comes before year 2.
When buying comes out ahead
- If you rented the same home, it would cost more than $510 a month.
- You stay for 2 years or longer.
Flint compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Flint | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $64,412 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $927 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 5.8 (#809 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 5.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 2.07% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 46% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Michigan
- Buying wins by $72k in Detroit, MI.
- Renting wins by $20k in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Buying wins by $7k in Warren, MI.
- Renting wins by $32k in Sterling Heights, MI.
- Renting wins by $124k in Ann Arbor, MI.
- Toss-up in Lansing, MI, where buying is ahead by $2k.
- Buying wins by $18k in Dearborn, MI.
- Renting wins by $26k in Livonia, MI.
- Renting wins by $89k in Troy, MI.
- Renting wins by $95k in Farmington Hills, MI.
- Renting wins by $7k in Westland, MI.
- Renting wins by $23k in Wyoming, MI.