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Money · Timing gauge

Property Market Timing Gauge

Calculate the real cost of waiting to buy versus buying now: rent paid, deposit erosion, and price appreciation missed over your chosen wait period.

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Money Under 2 minutes Verdict card

Timing gauge

Waiting for your input

Enter your rent, deposit, target price, and wait period. Podge names what waiting actually costs against what it might save.

What this means

This instrument starts blank so it does not judge a made-up example before you have entered your own situation.

Formula used

Cost of waiting = rent paid + price appreciation missed - deposit interest gained + deposit inflation erosion.

Worked example

Waiting 12 months at £1,500/month rent, with prices rising 3%/year on a £350,000 property, costs £18,000 in rent plus £10,500 in appreciation — roughly £28,500.

Common questions

What if prices are expected to fall?
Enter a negative percentage for the expected price change. The tool will show if the fall is large enough to justify the rent paid while waiting.

Does this include mortgage costs?
No — this tool focuses on the cost of timing, not the ongoing mortgage cost. Use the mortgage overpayment tool for ongoing cost comparisons.

Plain-English summary

Fill in the questions on the left to generate a verdict card.

This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.

Disclaimer: This is a planning estimate, not financial or mortgage advice. Property markets are unpredictable. Use a qualified adviser for any major purchase decision.

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