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Best Free Real Estate Calculators Online (2025)

Analyze mortgage affordability, rental yields, closing costs, and commercial leases with free real estate calculators for buyers and investors.

Guide Overview

Real estate decisions involve the largest financial commitments most people ever make. Whether you are buying your first home, evaluating a rental property, or negotiating a commercial lease, running the numbers first can save tens of thousands of dollars. These free calculators cover residential and commercial scenarios with no sign-up required.

Focus: home buying, rental property analysis, commercial real estate

How Much House Can You Actually Afford?

Mortgage pre-approval gives you a maximum, but that number often stretches buyers too thin. Our mortgage affordability calculator works from your income, debts, and desired monthly payment to find a comfortable purchase price. It factors in property taxes, homeowners insurance, and PMI if your down payment is below 20 percent. The result is a price range that keeps your housing costs at or below the recommended 28 percent of gross income.

Rental Property Analysis: Yield, Cash Flow, and Cap Rate

A rental property looks different through an investor's lens than a homebuyer's. The rental yield calculator computes gross and net yield based on purchase price, expected rent, and annual operating expenses. It also shows your cash-on-cash return if you finance the purchase. A property with a 10 percent gross yield might only produce a 5 percent net yield after taxes, insurance, maintenance, and vacancy are accounted for. Knowing the net number prevents overpaying for underperforming assets.

Rent vs. Buy: The Decision Framework

The rent-vs.-buy question depends on more variables than most people realize. Beyond comparing monthly rent to a mortgage payment, you need to factor in opportunity cost of the down payment, closing costs, maintenance, property appreciation, tax benefits, and how long you plan to stay. Our calculator models all of these over your expected holding period and shows the total cost of each option. In many high-cost markets, renting and investing the difference comes out ahead for stays under five years.

Closing Costs: The Bill You Did Not Budget For

Closing costs typically run 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price and include lender fees, title insurance, appraisal, attorney fees, and prepaid taxes and insurance. On a $400,000 home, that is $8,000 to $20,000 due at signing. The closing cost calculator estimates each line item so you can budget accurately and negotiate where possible. Some costs like title insurance and lender origination fees have room for shopping and comparison.

Commercial Lease and Office Space Analysis

Commercial leases are structured differently from residential ones, with triple-net (NNN) terms, CAM charges, and escalation clauses that can dramatically affect your total occupancy cost. The commercial lease calculator models your all-in cost per square foot including base rent, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The office space cost calculator helps growing companies estimate how much space they need and what it will cost per employee. These tools are essential for comparing spaces and negotiating lease terms confidently.

Tools in This Guide

Use these tools in sequence based on your workflow needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of income should go to mortgage payments?
The standard guideline is no more than 28 percent of gross monthly income for housing costs, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Some lenders will approve up to 36 percent, but stretching to that level leaves little room for savings or unexpected expenses.
What is a good rental yield for investment properties?
A gross rental yield of 6 to 10 percent is generally considered attractive, depending on the market and property type. Net yield after all expenses should be at least 4 to 6 percent to justify the risks and illiquidity of real estate compared to other investments.
How much should I budget for closing costs?
Plan for 2 to 5 percent of the home purchase price. On a $350,000 home, that means setting aside $7,000 to $17,500 in addition to your down payment. Some closing costs are negotiable, and seller concessions can help offset them in buyer-friendly markets.
What are CAM charges in a commercial lease?
Common Area Maintenance charges cover the landlord's costs for maintaining shared spaces like lobbies, parking lots, and landscaping. In a NNN lease, tenants pay their proportionate share of CAM, property taxes, and insurance on top of base rent. Always cap CAM escalations in your lease if possible.
Is it better to lease or buy commercial property?
Leasing preserves capital and flexibility, which is valuable for growing businesses. Buying builds equity and locks in costs but ties up significant capital and limits your ability to relocate. The right choice depends on your cash position, growth plans, and how long you expect to stay in the space.

Last updated: June 1, 2025