RentalCalcs · Original decision worksheet

House-hack decision worksheet

Verify the property and financing, then compare your actual home with a similar rental. Fill locally, then print or save as PDF. Nothing is submitted or automatically saved.

Read the complete worked guide

Worked example

The hypothetical $400,000 duplex commits $41,000 initially. Living in its two-bedroom costs $2,090 monthly versus $2,000 comparable rent; living in its one-bedroom costs $1,710 versus $1,600 comparable rent. Both include the same $400 whole-building allowance. An empty tenant month requires $3,610 before extra work.

1. Choose a workable home

Owner unit, size, layout and non-negotiable household needsRecognized units, legal rental use, permits and restrictions; evidence and contactExisting leases, deposits and possession date for the owner unitLoan program, lender-confirmed rent treatment and missing documentation

2. Build the full budget

Down payment, closing costs/prepaids, deposits and credits, counted onceInitial work, property opening buffer and separate household emergency needsPayment, mortgage insurance, taxes, insurance and utilities; source/dateWhole-building repairs and capital allowances, including the rented unit

3. Compare and stress

Tenant rent, vacancy assumption and comparable rental for the actual owner unitMonth without rent: bills, turnover work and cash available before the next collectionMove-out plan: all-unit rent, management, continuing costs and next homeCalculator reconciliation, unresolved evidence and proceed/investigate/pass decision

Calculation notes

Owner budget = full monthly payment + whole-building allowances + owner-paid cost differences - effective tenant rent. Use either a vacancy allowance or actual empty-month collections for the same period. Compare with a similar home, including utilities. Keep acquisition cash, equity, sale costs, tax and alternative investment returns separate from this monthly screen.

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Original RentalCalcs educational worksheet. Numbers are hypothetical, not a property estimate, bank forecast or promise of a return. CFPB: understanding your Loan Estimate.