Real Estate Calculator
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This real estate calculator gives a quick first look at a property: the mortgage payment, full monthly housing cost, cash needed to close, price per square foot and how the price compares with local rents.
Buying, selling, renting or investing in property involves a long chain of numbers: what a lender will approve, what the monthly payment will be, how much cash closing takes, whether a rental will pay for itself and how much material a renovation needs. The quick check above answers the first questions about any listing in a few seconds. For a 2,000-square-foot home priced at $400,000 with 20% down at 6.5%, the principal-and-interest payment is $2,022.62 a month, cash to close is about $92,000, and the price works out to $200 per square foot.
The price-to-rent ratio compares buying with renting a similar home. Below about 15, owning tends to be cheaper over time; above about 20, renting usually wins. The example's ratio of 13.9 suggests buying is worth a closer look. Gross rental yield, annual rent divided by price, is the investor's version of the same idea, before any expenses.
When a quick check looks promising, move on to the dedicated tools below. Each focuses on one decision and handles the details this summary leaves out.
Financial
These calculators cover the money side of real estate, from the first budget to paying off the loan:
- Mortgage calculator: the full monthly payment with property tax, insurance, PMI and HOA dues, plus an amortization schedule.
- House affordability calculator: the most you can spend based on income and debts using 28/36, FHA or VA ratios, or a fixed monthly budget.
- Mortgage payoff calculator: how extra payments, biweekly payments or a lump sum shorten the loan and cut interest.
- Refinance calculator: compares your current loan with a new one, including points, fees and cash out, and finds the break-even point.
- FHA loan calculator: payments on a Federal Housing Administration loan with upfront and annual mortgage insurance premiums.
- VA mortgage calculator: payments on a VA-guaranteed loan, including the funding fee and exemptions.
- Down payment calculator: the home price, down payment or loan amount you can manage with the cash you have.
- APR calculator: the true yearly cost of a loan once lender fees and points are included.
- Home equity loan and HELOC calculators: how much equity you can borrow and what a lump-sum loan or credit line will cost.
- Rental property calculator: cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and IRR for an investment property.
- Rent and rent vs. buy calculators: how much rent fits your income, and whether owning beats renting over the time you plan to stay.
Price-to-rent ratio = home price ÷ (monthly rent × 12) · Gross yield = annual rent ÷ price
- home price
- purchase price of the property
- monthly rent
- rent for a comparable home in the same area
Both are quick screens only. They ignore taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy and financing, which the rental property and rent vs. buy calculators account for.
Other
Owning property also means measuring, building and maintaining it. These tools handle the practical side:
- Area and square footage calculators: floor area of rooms and lots of almost any shape, for listings, flooring and pricing per square foot.
- Concrete calculator: cubic yards and bags of concrete for slabs, footings, columns and steps.
- BTU calculator: the heating or cooling capacity a room needs, based on size, insulation and climate.
- Stair calculator: rise, run, stringer length and number of steps that meet common building-code limits.
- Tile calculator: how many tiles a floor or wall needs, including an allowance for cuts and waste.
- Roofing calculator: roof area and the number of shingle bundles or squares to order, adjusted for pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good price-to-rent ratio?
Ratios below about 15 generally favor buying, 15 to 20 is a gray area, and above 20 renting is often cheaper. A $400,000 home that would rent for $2,400 a month has a ratio of 13.9.
How much cash do I need to buy a house?
The down payment plus closing costs, which typically run 2% to 5% of the price. With 20% down and 3% closing costs on a $400,000 home, that is about $92,000, before moving costs and reserves.
How is price per square foot calculated?
Divide the sale price by the finished living area. A $400,000 home with 2,000 square feet costs $200 per square foot. Compare it only with similar homes nearby.
What does gross rental yield mean?
Annual rent divided by the purchase price, before expenses. It is a quick screen; net yield and cap rate subtract taxes, insurance, maintenance and vacancy for a truer picture.
How do you calculate the cap rate on a property?
Divide net operating income, the yearly rent after vacancy minus operating expenses such as taxes, insurance and maintenance but before mortgage payments, by the property's price or value. A $400,000 property with $24,000 of NOI has a 6% cap rate. The rental property calculator works it out from your own rent and expense figures.
What is the formula for ROI on real estate?
ROI = total gain ÷ cash invested × 100, where the gain is rental cash flow plus sale profit after all costs. If you put $100,000 into a property and come out $30,000 ahead after costs, the ROI is 30%. For a single year, cash-on-cash return, annual cash flow divided by cash invested, is the more common measure.
How is property tax calculated on a home?
Multiply the assessed value by the local tax rate. A home assessed at $300,000 with a 1.2% rate owes $3,600 a year, or $300 a month. Where rates are quoted in mills, divide by 1,000, so 12 mills is the same 1.2%. Assessed value can differ from market value, so check the county assessor's record.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm figures with a qualified professional or your lender.
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