About the Home Seller Carrying Cost Calculator
This tool estimates the cost of holding a home while it remains listed for sale. It is useful for sellers, real estate agents, and investors who want to understand how monthly expenses add up over a projected number of days on market.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the total monthly ownership cost, including the mortgage payment, property tax, and insurance.
- Enter the expected number of days the home will remain on the market.
- Review the total carrying cost shown in dollars.
- Compare the cost per day and months held summaries to understand the daily and time-based impact.
How it works
The calculator uses two inputs: total monthly ownership cost and days on market. Monthly ownership cost should represent the recurring costs of keeping the property, such as mortgage payment, property taxes, and insurance.
Example calculation
If your total monthly ownership cost is $3,000 and the home is expected to be on the market for 60 days, the calculator converts 60 days to 1.97 months using 60 ÷ 30.44. The total carrying cost is $3,000 × 1.97 = about $5,913, and the cost per day is $3,000 ÷ 30.44 = about $99.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in monthly ownership cost?
It commonly includes the mortgage payment, property tax, and homeowners insurance. You may also include HOA dues, utilities, maintenance, or other recurring costs if you want a broader estimate.
Why does the calculator use 30.44 days per month?
30.44 is the average number of days in a month over a full year, calculated as 365.25 days divided by 12 months.
Does days on market mean days until closing?
Not necessarily. Days on market usually means the time the home is listed before accepting an offer. If you want to estimate costs through closing, enter the full expected holding period.
What happens if I enter a negative number?
Negative or invalid inputs are treated as 0, so the calculator only estimates non-negative carrying costs.
Is this the full cost of selling a home?
No. This estimates holding costs only. It does not include agent commissions, closing costs, repairs, concessions, staging, or moving expenses.