Condo FIRE Calculator
See how condo ownership costs extend your path to financial independence — and what happens if you rent and invest the difference instead.
Your Finances
Condo Costs
Assumptions: Rent increases 3%/yr. Non-housing expenses estimated at 50% of income minus housing. All values in today's dollars adjusted for growth rates.
Your FIRE Comparison
Wealth Growth: Rent & Invest vs. Own
25-Year Cost Comparison
| Year | Condo Total | Rent Total | Difference | Portfolio (Rent) | Portfolio (Own) |
|---|
Accelerate your path to financial independence
The W-2 Trap maps 80+ exit strategies from wage dependency. The Condo Trap reveals every hidden cost before you buy. Together, they give you the complete FIRE playbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOA fees directly reduce your monthly savings rate, which is the single biggest factor in reaching FIRE. A $450/month HOA fee compounding at 6% per year means you lose $450 in investable cash today and over $800/month within a decade. Over 25 years, that lost investment potential can exceed $500,000 in portfolio value — enough to delay FIRE by 5-10 years.
In most scenarios, renting a comparable unit and investing the difference in total monthly costs leads to FIRE faster. Condo ownership layers HOA fees, special assessments, insurance, and property taxes on top of your mortgage — costs that don't build equity. The Condo FIRE Calculator above shows the exact year-by-year comparison for your situation.
Special assessments are unpredictable lump-sum costs that drain your investment portfolio or emergency fund. A $10,000 special assessment every 5 years doesn't just cost $10,000 — it costs the compounded growth that money would have generated. Over 25 years, recurring assessments can add 2-4 years to your FIRE timeline.
To reach FIRE in 15-20 years, you typically need a 40-60% savings rate. Condo carrying costs (HOA, insurance, taxes, assessments) can consume 15-25% of gross income on top of the mortgage, making high savings rates extremely difficult. If your total condo costs exceed comparable rent by $500-1,000+/month, you may need to earn significantly more to maintain the same FIRE timeline.
Yes. Condo owners must fund perpetual carrying costs (HOA fees, insurance, taxes) that increase faster than inflation — HOA fees average 6%/year growth. This means your FIRE number must be higher to sustain these rising costs, and a 4% withdrawal rate may not be safe if your fixed expenses grow at 2-3x the inflation rate. Renters have more flexibility to relocate to lower-cost areas in retirement.