Resources

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Wealth Through Real Estate

Visualize how your home builds equity over time.

*Historic national avg is ~2-4%
Gross Equity
Net Cash (Realist)
Initial Cash to Close
$0
Down Pmt + ~3% Costs
Total Equity
$0
Value - Loan Balance
Future Home Value
$0
Total ROI
0%
Return on Cash Invested

The Real Cost of Renting vs. Buying

An honest look at where your money goes over time

If You Buy
Historic national avg: 2–4%/yr
If You Rent
Metro avg: 3–5%/yr
Your Position at Year 10
Monthly PITI
$0
P&I + Tax + Ins + PMI
Monthly Rent
$0
At selected year
Leverage
0x
Your cash controls
Home Equity
$0
Value − Loan Balance
Total Extra Paid
$0
Buying costs vs. renting
Total Rent Paid
$0
Cumulative with increases
Net Advantage of Buying
$0
Breakeven Year
When buying overtakes renting
Sell vs. Rent Calculator | The Downs Mortgage Group

The Downs Mortgage Group • DMV Housing Analysis

Should I Sell or Rent My Home?

Calculate your true ROI stack — cash flow, principal paydown, and appreciation

Washington, DC
Maryland
Virginia
My monthly payment includes escrows for property taxes & insurance (PITI)
Include taxes & insurance
From your mortgage statement
Leave blank if none
Staging, repairs, title fees
Historical DC/MD/VA avg: 2.5–4%
Rent tends to track with inflation
Liquidation Equity (What You'd Walk Away With If You Sell Today)
Sale Price
Total Deductions
Net Proceeds
Year 1 Snapshot — All Returns Based on Liquidation Equity

Your Rental ROI Stack

Layer 1: Cash Flow

Monthly Rent
Monthly Expenses
Net Monthly Cash
Annual Cash Flow
Cash-on-Cash Return
Annual cash / Liquidation Equity

Layer 2: + Principal

Monthly Principal
Annual Principal
Cash + Principal
Return w/ Principal
Adding forced savings to the stack

Layer 3: + Appreciation

Annual Home Gain
Annual Rent Growth
Combined Gain
Total Stacked ROI
Full annual return on trapped equity
⚖️ Opportunity Cost — If You Sell & Deploy the Equity Instead
Lower New Mortgage Payment
Applying proceeds at 6.5% rate
S&P 500 (10-yr Avg)
10% return on equity in year 1
High-Yield Savings
~4.5% with zero landlord risk