About Immobascule
Immobascule is a free online calculator that helps people in Quebec answer an expensive question: is it better to buy or to rent? The answer comes down to numbers — not gut feeling — so we put them all on the table.
Our mission
Buying isn't always smarter than renting, and renting isn't always "throwing money away." It depends on price, rates, down payment, investment return and time horizon. Immobascule compares the net worth of the two paths — becoming an owner, or staying a renter and investing the difference — from the same starting cash, and shows you the break-even year.
How it works
The calculation accounts for the welcome tax (transfer duties) by bracket, the CMHC premium, the HBP, semi-annual mortgage compounding (the Canadian standard) and an after-tax investment return — all terms defined in the glossary. Every assumption is visible and editable. The full methodology details each formula, each source and the model's stated limits.
Independence and transparency
- Free, no account. No paywall, no sign-up to use the calculator.
- No personalized advice sold. Immobascule provides educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
- Affiliate disclosure. Some links to investment platforms (e.g. Wealthsimple) are affiliate links: they may earn a commission, at no cost to you and with no influence on the calculations.
- Public sources. Rules and rates come from official sources — CMHC, municipal transfer-duty schedules, Institut de la statistique du Québec data — listed in the methodology.
Privacy
Traffic is measured with Cloudflare Web Analytics (cookieless), Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity (behavioral analytics) — the latter two only after your consent via the banner, in line with Quebec's Law 25 and the GDPR.
Frequently asked questions
Is Immobascule free?
Yes. The calculator is free and requires no account: no paywall, no sign-up to use it.
Does Immobascule provide personalized financial advice?
No. Immobascule provides educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Consult a professional about your situation before making any decision.
How is Immobascule funded?
Some links to investment platforms (e.g. Wealthsimple) are affiliate links: they may earn a commission, at no cost to you and with no influence on the calculations. This affiliation is disclosed.
What data does Immobascule collect?
Traffic is measured with Cloudflare Web Analytics (cookieless). Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity only run after your consent via the banner, in line with Quebec's Law 25 and the GDPR.
Immobascule does not provide financial, tax or legal advice. This tool is for educational and informational purposes; consult a professional about your situation before making any decision.