Rent vs Sell Calculator

This is the owner's question rather than the buyer's: you already have the house, so should you sell it or let it out. Enter what it is worth, the mortgage on it, the rent you could charge, the landlord costs and how long you would hold it, and both paths are carried to the same date. Selling gives net proceeds today growing at the return you enter, while keeping it gives reinvested cash flow plus the equity when you eventually sell. It also gives the rent and the return that would make the two tie, and every figure is before tax.

What the House Is Worth Today ($) *

Mortgage Balance ($, 0 if it is paid off)

Rate on That Mortgage (%)

Years Left on the Mortgage

Cost of Selling (% of the sale price)

Agent commission plus seller closing costs. Seven per cent is a common all-in figure.

One-Off Cost to Sell Now ($)

Repairs, paint, staging and concessions to get it sold.

Years You Would Hold It *

Return on Money You Invest Instead (% a year)

House Appreciation (% a year)

Rent You Could Charge ($ a month) *

Rent and Costs Rise (% a year)

Vacancy and Bad Debt (% of rent)

Property Management (% of rent collected)

Put zero only if you are genuinely willing to do the job yourself.

Repairs and Reserves (% of rent collected)

Property Tax ($ a year)

Landlord Insurance ($ a year)

HOA Dues ($ a month)

Widget