05/01/2026
If you guessed C) 54%, you’re right (though I feel anyone who answered D).
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. rent increased by about 54% between 2015 and 2025 — roughly double the pace of general inflation.
That means a renter paying about $1,500/month in 2015 could be paying around $2,300/month today.
Meanwhile, homeowners with fixed-rate mortgages saw something very different ⬇️
Their principal and interest payments stayed largely the SAME month after month.
In my experience, those are two of the biggest long-term advantages of homeownership:
1️⃣ Predictable housing costs
2️⃣ The ability to build equity over time
And here’s something many people don’t realize:
💡 You don’t necessarily need 20% down
💡 Some loan programs allow down payments as low as 3–5%
💡 Many renters are closer to qualifying than they think
This isn’t about saying renting is wrong — renting makes sense for a lot of people at different stages of life.
But if you’ve ever wondered whether buying could be possible for you, it might be worth taking a look at the numbers.
If you’re curious how your current rent compares to a potential mortgage payment, comment or message me COMPARE and I’ll send you the details to run a quick comparison – no credit pull required!
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index – Rent of Primary Residence.
