Property Decision Dashboard
Free property tool
Property Decision Dashboard
Mortgage, cash flow, returns, rent versus buy, affordability and stress tests in one place. Every figure updates as you type.
AssumptionsPrice, loan, rent and costs
Deal score
Each factor is scored against a stated benchmark.Where the rent goes
Monthly, year 1Equity build-up
Property value, loan balance and equity over the holding periodCash flow by year
After mortgage, PMI and all costsIf you sell
Stress test
Monthly cash flow if conditions turn worseWhat the numbers say
Renting instead
Home price, down payment, rate and costs come from the assumptions panel.Net worth: buying vs renting
Buying counts home value after selling costs, minus the loan. Renting counts your down payment and every monthly saving, invested.Year by year
Pay it off faster
Loan amount, rate and term come from the assumptions panel.Loan balance
Milestones
Annual amortization
Your finances
Lenders compare housing cost and total debt to gross income.Maximum price by interest rate
Standard 28/36 limitsWhat you can afford
Three common lending limits: housing cost / total debt as a share of gross income.Standard limit, monthly cost
Sensitivity map
See how the result moves when two assumptions change together. The outlined cell is your current case.Side by side
Tax and insurance scale with price. Everything else comes from the assumptions panel. Best value in each row is shaded.Planning tool. Results are estimates, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Real lending terms, taxes, insurance, upkeep, transaction costs and market performance will differ. Income tax, depreciation and mortgage interest deductions are not modelled.
Tutorial
How to use the dashboard
Three minutes is enough. Start with the deal tab, then use the others to test whether the result survives real life.
- 1
Enter the deal
Open Assumptions and fill in price, down payment, rate, term and the rent you expect. Defaults are reasonable placeholders, replace them.
- 2
Read the verdict
The Deal analyzer shows cash flow, return and a score out of 100. Each factor is scored against a stated benchmark.
- 3
Stress it
Check the stress test, the sensitivity map and a second scenario. A good deal still works when things go a bit wrong.
1Deal analyzerIs this property worth buying to rent out?
Shows monthly cash flow, cash-on-cash return, cap rate, DSCR, IRR if you sell, an equity chart and a plain-language list of what the numbers say.
- Cash flow: rent minus mortgage, PMI, tax, insurance, HOA, vacancy, maintenance and management.
- Cash-on-cash: yearly cash flow divided by the cash you put in.
- Benchmarks used for scoring: IRR 10%, cash-on-cash 8%, cap rate 6%, DSCR 1.35x, break-even occupancy 75%.
Tip. Fewer than four green factors usually means the price or the rent assumption needs work.
2Rent vs buyOwn it, or rent and invest the difference?
Enter the rent you would pay instead. The chart compares net worth over time: buying counts home value after selling costs minus the loan, renting counts your down payment and every monthly saving invested.
Tip. The crossover year is the number to watch. If you may move before it, renting likely wins.
3MortgageSee what extra payments save you
Add an extra monthly payment or a one-time lump sum. You see interest saved, the new payoff date, a balance chart, milestones and an annual amortization table.
4AffordabilityWhat price can your income support?
Enter income, debts and savings. Three common lending limits show the maximum price, and the chart shows how that price falls as rates rise. Hit Analyze this price as a deal to carry it into the Deal analyzer.
5SensitivityHow fragile is the result?
Pick a result and two assumptions to vary. The heat map shades good and bad outcomes, and the outlined cell is your current case.
Tip. If one step in rate or rent turns the map red, the deal has little margin.
6ScenariosCompare up to three properties or offers
Fill three columns with different prices, rents or rates. The best value in each row is shaded. Copy the current deal into scenario B saves retyping.
Worked example
Defaults: $400,000 price, 20% down, 6.5%, 30 years, $2,500 rent.At those inputs the property loses money every month. Now raise the rent to $3,300 and the picture changes:
Cash flow is thin, but appreciation and loan paydown lift the IRR. Open the stress test: a 2-point rate rise would take it to about −$390 a month. That is the kind of risk this tool is for.
Assumptions explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Vacancy | Share of the year the unit sits empty. 5 to 8% is typical. |
| Maintenance | Yearly repairs as a share of rent or value. Older homes need more. |
| Management | Share of collected rent paid to a manager. Use 0 if you self-manage. |
| Appreciation | Yearly price growth. Be conservative, 2 to 3% is a sober base case. |
| Closing and selling costs | Fees paid when buying and when selling later. |
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
They stay in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Use Copy summary to share a result.
Why does a small change in rent move the score so much?
Cash flow on a leveraged property is the thin difference between two large numbers, so rent changes show up sharply. That is exactly what the sensitivity map visualises.
Does it include taxes on rental income?
No. Income tax, depreciation and interest deductions are not modelled. Property tax, insurance and HOA are.
Ready to try it?
Scroll back up and replace the defaults with your own deal. Estimates only, not financial advice.