Interactive Simulator
House Hack Simulator
Compare house hacking — buying a home and renting part of it out — against renting and investing the difference.
Adjust assumptions to see how rental income, ownership costs, and equity growth play out over time.
House Hack Score
Strong
After rental income, your housing cost drops to $1,692/mo — $108/mo less than renting. You also build $359K in equity over 15 years.
Net monthly cost
$1,692/mo
Rent coverage
73%
Score drivers
Rent coverage
Fair
Net housing cost
Fair
Equity growth
Strong
House Hack Score
Strong
After rental income, your housing cost drops to $1,692/mo — $108/mo less than renting. You also build $359K in equity over 15 years.
Net monthly cost
$1,692/mo
Rent coverage
73%
Score drivers
Rent coverage
Fair
Net housing cost
Fair
Equity growth
Strong
Monthly housing cost (initial)
Rental income of $1,710/mo offsets $3,402/mo in ownership costs.
Wealth over time
In this scenario, house hacking pulls ahead — lower monthly costs free up cash to invest while equity builds through appreciation.
Net housing cost over time
Net cost falls over time as rising tenant rent offsets a mostly fixed mortgage payment.
Detailed breakdown
Home equity
$359K
Mortgage payment
$2,335/mo
Rental income
$1,710/mo
Down payment
$40,000
Total ROI
861%
Annualized ROI
16.3%
What’s driving this
Rental income covers 73% of your mortgage, reducing your effective housing cost from $3,402 to $1,692/mo — $108 less than renting at $1,800/mo. Over 15 years you build $359K in equity. House hack wealth overtakes the rent-and-invest alternative around year 3. By year 15, house hacking puts you $382K ahead of renting and investing.
This simulator is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Results are estimates based on the assumptions provided. Actual outcomes will vary based on market conditions, tenant quality, tax implications, maintenance costs, and other factors not fully captured here. Selling costs default to 6% of home value. Consult a financial advisor and real estate professional for personalized guidance.