Holding is not free
The case for waiting is usually appreciation. The case against it is the sum of every month of mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA, and maintenance, plus the large items you already know are coming — the roof that has a few years left, the HVAC system at the end of its life.
Over three years those numbers get large. This calculator makes you put both sides on the table at once.
Test your appreciation assumption
Appreciation is the only input here that nobody can know. Insurance premiums and property taxes have risen faster than many owners expected in recent years, particularly in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, which eats into the same arithmetic from the other side.
Run it at zero and run it optimistically. If the conclusion changes, you are not making a calculation — you are making a forecast, and it is worth being honest about that.
The reasons that are not financial
Several of the owners we buy from could make more money by waiting and choose not to. That is a legitimate decision, and this tool is only one input to it.
- A property in another state you cannot practically manage
- A rental you no longer want to be a landlord for
- An inherited house that is a source of family friction
- Repairs you do not want to supervise
- A property whose insurance is becoming difficult to renew
Frequently asked questions
Should I sell now or wait for prices to rise?
It depends on whether appreciation will outrun your carrying costs and the repairs coming due. This calculator compares both on the same basis using your own assumptions.
What carrying costs should I include?
Mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA dues, and routine maintenance — net of any rent. Insurance and taxes have risen quickly in several of our markets.
Does it matter that the offer is below market value?
It matters less than the headline suggests once commission, pre-sale repairs, and months of carrying costs are counted. The cash offer versus realtor calculator compares those directly.
What if my insurance is becoming hard to renew?
That is a serious factor. A property that becomes uninsurable is also unfinanceable, which shrinks the future buyer pool to cash buyers.