Selling vs. Renting: Which Path Makes the Most Sense for Homeowners?

If your house has been sitting on the market without the offers you were hoping for, you may be wondering: what now? For a growing number of homeowners, that’s turning into a new dilemma: should I rent it instead?

There’s even a name for this — becoming an “accidental landlord.”

Yahoo Finance explains:

“These ‘accidental landlords’ are homeowners who tried to sell but couldn’t fetch the price they wanted — and instead have decided to rent out their homes until conditions improve.”

Why This Is Happening More Often Right Now

Sales have slowed as affordability challenges keep buyers on the sidelines. And as Business Insider explains:

“While there have always been accidental landlords . . . an era of middling home sales brought on by a steep rise in borrowing rates — is minting a new wave of reluctant rental owners.”

Instead of lowering their price to attract buyers, some homeowners are renting their homes out instead.

But before you follow that path, here’s what you should know: becoming a landlord wasn’t your original plan for a reason. It comes with more responsibility — and risk — than most people expect.

3 Questions To Ask Before Renting Your House

1. Does Your House Have Rental Potential?

Not every home makes a good rental. Ask yourself:

• Are you moving far away? Remote management can be tricky.

• Does the home need costly repairs to be “renter ready”?

• Is your neighborhood one renters are even looking for?

If the answer is “no” to any of these, selling may be the better option.

2. Are You Ready To Be a Landlord?

Rental income sounds nice — but the reality isn’t always easy. Expect:

• Calls at all hours for repairs

• Chasing late rent payments

• Repairing damage between tenants

As Redfin notes:

“Landlords have to fix things like broken pipes, defunct HVAC systems, and structural damage, among other essential repairs. If you don’t have a few thousand dollars on hand to take care of these repairs, you could end up in a bind.”

3. Have You Considered the True Costs?

Renting isn’t free money. You’ll need to budget for:

• Insurance: landlord policies cost ~25% more

• Property management fees: ~10% of the monthly rent if you hire a pro

• Maintenance and advertising

• Vacancy periods where you pay the mortgage without rental income

All of these expenses add up quickly.

The Better Solution for Many Sellers

If you’re only considering renting because your home didn’t get the traction you wanted, there may be a better option: revisiting your pricing strategy with your agent.

A skilled local agent can help you:

• Adjust your pricing to today’s market

• Relaunch your listing with fresh marketing

• Attract serious buyers so you can sell and move on

Bottom Line

Renting your house might sound like a quick fix, but for many homeowners, it creates more headaches than solutions. Before you make the leap into being a landlord, weigh the pros and cons carefully — and talk with your agent about how to reposition your house to get it sold.

Because the right strategy might just get you the sale you were waiting for all along.