10/15/2026
Most owners weighing "sell it or rent it out" start with two numbers: what the house would sell for, and what it would rent for.
Those two numbers don't answer the question.
What matters is what each path nets you over the years you'd actually hold it. On the sell side, that's the proceeds after commission, closing costs, and whatever it takes to get the deal done — and then what that equity goes on to do next. On the rent side, it's the mortgage plus property taxes, insurance, a maintenance reserve, a vacancy allowance, and management fees if you won't be handling it yourself.
And a rental pays you in three ways that arrive at different speeds: monthly cash flow, the principal your tenant is quietly paying down, and appreciation over time. A house that barely breaks even each month can still be a strong hold. One that cash-flows can still be the wrong call if you need that equity for the next place.
Run it with real local numbers for your specific house. Rent, taxes, and appreciation vary enough from one neighborhood to the next to flip the answer.
Read the full article: http://hadleyott.com/sell-it-or-rent-it-out-how-to-decide-what-to-do-with-your-home-when-you-move/
