<prompt> Human: Hi guys. Ive been looking into buying a condo rather than renting an apartment since Ive read everywhere that its a better option because it serves as an investment which I agree with. Ive been looking at a few buy vs sell calculators and it always says that buying is cheaper than renting in my situation, however I fail to see how it works out. For example, if I compare renting an apartment for 1400mo as opposed to buying a condo for 250k, all calculators say that its beneficial for me to buy. But when I look at the monthly costs of a condo, the mortgage is about 1000mo in addition to HOA fees which come out to about 600 in my area. That means I pay 200 a month more to buy and thats not including the down payment, closing costs, and other fees that come with buying property. Am I missing something? It seems to me that my monthly cost will always be higher if I buy as opposed to if I decide to rent. Assistant: Is the calculator taking into account that you are building equity faster than 200mo and you are ignoring that detail?Human: Yeah, I suppose I didnt take into that into account. I guess I was just looking at my costs at face value and all I see is how much more buying will cost me up front. Im trying to justify buying but it feels like I cant afford to despite building equity.  <response>: Most calculators typically set HOA fees to 0month. Make sure you adjust that option.EDIT: Also make sure that youre comparing two equal housing options, one being a rental, one a purchase. Dont compare different units AND buy vs. rent. 