House Hacking Calculator — Baltimore, MD
Pre-filled with localized assumptions for Baltimore. Replace the defaults with your real numbers (rent comps, taxes, insurance, repairs, and reserves) to get an accurate result.
Inputs
Results
You save money vs renting.
- Rental units: 3 (you live in 1)
- Rental income (gross): $4,500
- Rental income (after vacancy): $4,230
- Operating expenses: $1,245
- Mortgage payment: $3,097
- Total housing cost: $4,342
- Offset by rental income: −$2,985
- Your net cost: $1,357
- If you rented instead: $1,500/month
- House hacking cost: $1,357/month
- Monthly difference: $143
Tip: FHA loans allow 3.5% down on 2-4 unit properties if you live in one. Down payment: $24,500
Baltimore Local Market Note
Informational onlyBaltimore's rowhome stock offers some of the highest gross yields on the East Coast, with strong anchor employment from Johns Hopkins and federal agencies nearby. Success is highly block-by-block — investors focus on stable areas like Hamilton, Pigtown, and Highlandtown rather than chasing the cheapest shells. Baltimore City requires all rentals to be registered, inspected, and licensed, and Maryland's lead law requires pre-1978 rentals to be registered with MDE and meet lead risk-reduction standards — compliance costs you must budget for.
Local context for general information — not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current regulations and market data before making investment decisions.
How to Use This House Hacking Calculator (Mini Guide)
Live in one unit of a 2-4 unit property and rent out the others — see how much you save vs renting and whether you can live for free (or profit). These defaults are pre-filled for Baltimore, MD. Always replace them with your real numbers when you have them.
What house hacking is
Buy a duplex, triplex, or fourplex with an owner-occupant loan (3.5-5% down).
Live in one unit, rent out the others.
Rental income offsets (or eliminates) your housing cost.
Why house hacking is powerful
FHA loans allow 3.5% down on 2-4 unit properties if you live in one.
Conventional loans allow 5% down on 2-unit, 10-15% on 3-4 units.
You get investment property benefits with homeowner financing.
How to use this calculator
Enter purchase price and number of units (2, 3, or 4).
Enter rent per rental unit (not your own).
Value of your unit = what you'd pay to rent something similar.
Net cost = your total housing cost minus rental income offset.
What success looks like
Net housing cost < $500/month = you're winning.
Net housing cost ≤ $0 = you live for free.
Net housing cost < $0 (negative) = tenants pay you to live there.
Reality check
You're a landlord living next door to tenants — not for everyone.
Vacancy and maintenance are real — don't assume 0%.
Market rent matters — verify with comps, not wishful thinking.
How to use this calculator in Baltimore
Start with the pre-filled assumptions for Baltimore, then replace them with your deal’s numbers. If you’re an investor, keep vacancy and reserves conservative. If you’re a homeowner, pay special attention to property taxes and insurance — these often drive the rent vs buy decision.
Nearby cities in MD
Explore nearby cities to compare assumptions and outcomes.