Free Rentometer Alternative: Comp Your Own Rent in 10 Minutes
Rentometer dropped its free tier ($16-49/mo as of July 2026). Here is the 10-minute DIY comp method plus a free worksheet that turns five real listings into a defensible rent estimate.
A Free FIRE Calculator That Actually Models Rental Income (ProjectionLab, Boldin, and OnTrajectory Alternative)
Paid planners charge $129-144 a year to model rental income in a FIRE plan. This free projector runs investing-only vs house-hack scenarios side by side, saves in your browser, no account.
Free BRRRR Calculator: Run the Whole Cycle, No Account, No 5-Use Cap
A free BRRRR calculator that models the full cycle: cash in, cash back at the refinance, capital left in the deal, and post-refi cash flow. No account, no use limits, unlimited saved analyses.
Deal of the Week: Running an $85,500 Cleveland Double Through the Calculator
Run through the house hacking calculator, this $85,500 Cleveland side-by-side double covers itself: with 3.5% down on an FHA loan
A Free Mashvisor Alternative for First-Time House Hackers
A free Mashvisor alternative built for first-time house hackers: run duplex numbers without the subscription, with no account required and no run limits.
A Free DealCheck Alternative for House Hacking
A free DealCheck alternative for house hacking is a calculator built for living in the building you buy, since DealCheck
From Homeless to Homeowner: The Five-Year Story
Thirteen months in a van, a year renting, then a $185,000 starter home bought with county down-payment help. The order of steps that led from unsheltered to a duplex, and the public programs that opened each door.
Own for Less Than You Rent, Part 2: 12 More Metros
Twelve more metros through the same conservative duplex math at 2026 rates, priced from every active listing: two clear the bar, two cost about the same as renting, and eight cost more to own.
Is Real Estate Investing a Scam?
I own a duplex, so I looked at the difference between rental real estate itself and the seminar economy sold around it. FTC cases do most of the talking.
The Best Free House Hacking Calculators in 2026
Five free house hacking calculators compared: what each one does well, where each falls short, and how to use them together on a real two-to-four-unit deal.