The Numbers Look Good Until You Add Everything Up
A seller offers owner financing at 8% interest. The property rents for $2,000/month. The seller financing calculator reveals what the back-of-napkin math misses.
Not necessarily. Property taxes in that county run $4,800/year. Insurance is $2,400. The amortized payment on a $200,000 note at 8% over 20 years is $1,672/month. That leaves you $372/month before maintenance, vacancy, or management fees. The seller financing calculator exposes the real picture.
The 4 expenses investors forget in seller financing deals:
- Balloon payments. Many seller notes balloon in 5–7 years. If you can't refinance or sell by then, you default.
- Higher rates than conventional. Seller financing runs 6–10% — often 2+ points above bank rates.
- No escrow. You pay taxes and insurance directly. Miss a payment and you face penalties or lien risk.
- Maintenance from day one. You own the property — the furnace, the roof, the plumbing are your problem.
A seller financing calculator runs every expense against the real property data so you know your actual cash flow before you sign.
Run seller financing numbers on any US property — payment math, cash flow, and ROI in 30 seconds.
Analyze your seller financing deal free Free preview · No credit card · 30-second resultsWhat the Seller Financing Calculator Analyzes
Real Example: Seller Financing vs Conventional
Property: 3-bed, $265,000, Columbus OH. Market rent: $1,850/month.
| Metric | Seller Financing (8%, 20yr) | Conventional (6.75%, 30yr, 20% down) |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | $26,500 (10%) | $53,000 (20%) |
| Monthly P&I | $1,983 | $1,375 |
| Monthly PITI | $2,383 | $1,775 |
| Cash flow | -$533/mo | +$75/mo |
| Total interest (30yr) | $277,000 | $263,000 |
| Cash-on-cash return | Negative | 1.7% |
This deal doesn't work with seller financing at 8%. The calculator shows you that in 30 seconds — before you commit $26,500.
→ Compare this with subject-to and lease option strategies for the same property.
"The seller offered 7.5% financing and I almost took it. PIE showed me the cash flow was negative $200/month after taxes and insurance. I went back and negotiated 6% with a 7-year balloon — now it cash flows $180/month and I have a clear exit."
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the property address. PIE pulls real tax data, insurance estimates, market rent, and comparable sales for any US property.
- Set your financing terms. Purchase price, down payment, seller note rate, amortization period, and balloon date.
- Compare scenarios. Seller financing versus conventional mortgage versus other creative options. Pick the structure that actually cash flows.
→ Read our guide on financial metrics every investor needs to understand cash-on-cash return, cap rate, and ROI. Learn how to analyze a rental property deal step by step.
→ See all investment property financing options in one place.
Stop guessing on seller financing math. Get real payment numbers, cash flow projections, and total interest costs for any US property.
Analyze your seller financing deal free Free preview · No credit card