Renting out your home makes sense when the rent covers the full payment, upkeep and the months it may sit empty, and you are ready to be a landlord. Selling makes sense when the cash, and the time back, matter more. Put your own numbers into the calculator below and we will go through them with you.
Rent or sell: your numbers
Everything updates as you type, and nothing is sent from here.
Rent or sell
Enter the monthly rent to start. Add your payment and costs, then a sale price, to see both sides.
What we do, step by step
- Your goals firstWe start with what you want the money and the home to do for you: the next home, savings, income, or time.
- What the home could rent forWe look at homes like yours that are renting now, so the rent in your plan is a real one.
- What it would sell forWe study recent sales near you and prepare your home's value personally. No online guess.
- Both sides on one pageMonthly rent against the payment, upkeep, HOA and empty months, beside what you would walk away with after selling.
- The questions to take furtherTax, insurance and lending questions we flag for your tax professional, insurance agent and lender.
What you get
- A side-by-side of renting and selling from your own numbers
- A home value prepared by an agent, not an algorithm
- A seller net sheet you can change and keep
- A straight answer, even when the answer is to wait
Go through your numbers with us
An agent who does this every week replies to you personally, with no obligation.
The tools we use with you
Questions people ask
How do I know whether to rent out my house or sell it?
Compare the monthly rent with everything the home costs you each month: the loan payment with tax and insurance, HOA dues, a set-aside for repairs and the months it may sit empty. Then set that beside what you would walk away with if you sold. The calculator on this page does both from your own numbers.
What costs do landlords forget?
Repairs and replacements, the months between tenants, a landlord insurance policy (usually different from a homeowner policy), property management if you hire it, and the time it takes you each month.
Does renting my home out affect my taxes when I sell?
It can. The IRS home sale exclusion, up to $250,000 of gain or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, generally needs two years of owning and living in the home within the five years before the sale. Renting also brings depreciation rules. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
Can I keep my low interest rate if I rent the home out?
Usually the loan stays as it is, but read your loan terms and ask your lender: many loans expect you to live in the home for a set time after you buy it, and your insurance will need to change to a landlord policy.
What would my home sell for right now?
Ask for your free home value on this site. An agent studies the recent sales near you and sends the value personally. No automatic estimate is shown.
Can you help me find a tenant?
Tell us what you have in mind and we will point you to the right help, whether that is a property manager or doing it yourself, and what to check before you sign a lease.
Go through your numbers with us
Tell us a little about your plans. An agent who does this every week replies to you personally.
