Special offer

Best Tool for Agents Wanting Buyers - What You Pay In Rent

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

This 'rent calculation' card was why I bought my first home back in 1985.

When anyone sees how much they spend on rent, it's depressing and alarming to see how much it adds up to overtime. In my scenario, I was spending $850.00 per month to live in a 2 bdrm Condominium in Martinez, CA. I rented that place from Vince Manzarri for more than 3+ years while working at First American Title in Concord, CA. 

When I saw how much this totaled over time and how much of his mortgage I had been paying, it really made me upset with "myself" for throwing the better part of my salary into someone else's homeownership.

Try it yourself:

1. Write down how much you spend/spent on monthly rent?
2. How long on average do/did you rent?
3. Lookup your monthly rent, then go to the yearly row 

This should be enough to open the door to "ANY" renter for a conversation about the potential of buying a home vs renting someone else's. Remind your prospects and clients that money spent on rent has no tax benefit, can't be recouped, you're paying off someone else's home and for a few bucks more or less, you can own your own!

I created this using Google Drive and a spreadsheet. I didn't factor in equity or interest on money spent, just the raw total of what it costs over time to rent. You would want to make sure you add your branding and contact information to a piece like this, I guarantee renters and first-time buyers will be knocking your door down to buy a home. 

Comments (58)

Jon Boyd
Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Buyers Agent

Thanks for the idea Brad. The whole conversation gets a bit more complicated, but this is a great idea to start a discussion!

Mar 28, 2019 11:59 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Brad - when it's there in black and white, the facts are difficult to dispute.  

Mar 28, 2019 12:48 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great post Brad Andersohn ... I will put something together to share online and with Renters!  We need the FACTS ... Thank you!

Mar 28, 2019 01:10 PM
Ken & Velma Rohn, REALTORS® | TRG Sells AZ
TRG Sells AZ - Gilbert, AZ
Serving the Phoenix Metro Area | 25+ Yrs Combined

Great idea, Brad! I'm going to use this for sure. I don't even have to change the branding. 

Mar 28, 2019 02:13 PM
Krista Jenkins, REALTOR®
klm Real Estate - Lubbock, TX
Residential sales and retail & office leasing

Brad Andersohn , this is a great idea. I like how Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573 put it,"cash in the trash". It is eye-opening when you look at the aggregated numbers. Thank you for sharing.

Mar 28, 2019 04:43 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I understood this concept a long time ago and was happy to buy a home and stop paying rent.

Mar 28, 2019 10:02 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Brad, thanks for sharing. The visual is quick and easy to follow and does not require a lot of talk.

Very helpful.

Thanks

Mar 29, 2019 11:41 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hey Brad:

Thanks for sharing this. The visuals - the video and the chart - are pretty compelling. And I think the average rent is higher than $1800 here so the amount tenants are spending per year can become pretty staggering over time, with little to show for it other than having a place to live.

Have a great weekend!

Jeff

Mar 29, 2019 12:26 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I agree with you in principal. The numbers favor home ownership, esp if you can make extra payments.  However, so many pp want to own but can't find decent inventory in their price range,--or, difficult to save up for down payment, closing costs with all the other obligations they have (student loans for one). The middle class is shrinking b/c wages do not keep up with inflation

Mar 30, 2019 11:52 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Thanks for all the great feedback and comments. Mary also makes a great point regarding cost of living, inflation, and income. I agree.

It’s good to know we have many programs out there to assist buyers who have student loans, lower income, bad credit etc. Relocation is sometimes inevitable in life’s journey but can also be a blessing in disguise.

Mar 31, 2019 07:29 AM
Dave Rosenmarkle
Highland Realty, Inc - Fairfax, VA
33 years of providing fully satisfying service!

Great reminder! Sometimes I involve a lender to help further crunch the numbers to show possible tax advantages.

Apr 04, 2019 08:41 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

This is a great idea, Brad. I'm going to emulate your idea. It's a good peice to include in marketing materials, or for use at Opens. Thanks much. 

May 23, 2019 11:52 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Brad time to right another post it feels like it has been years:))Endre

May 23, 2019 11:38 PM
Brad Andersohn

Thanks Endre Barath, Jr. - time and life permitting, I'll be sharing more like this in the upcoming weeks and months.

Thanks for staying a committed and faithful follower and friend!! :)

May 26, 2019 12:55 PM
Kris Collis, Associate Broker
Smart Way America Realty - East Stroudsburg, PA
Professional Results you Expect 570-801-5525

Brad Andersohn Really Nice Tool, so many uses, will definitely out to use.  Thanks for sharing!

Oct 26, 2019 02:47 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

People will get what they pay for and they pay for a lot with you and it's worth it.

Mar 29, 2021 07:54 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Does anyone remember what was on Google Drive? lol~

I wrote the dog~gone thing and for the life of me, can't remember what was there?
My friend Lynn asked, and I have no clue?? #embarrassing  :)

Jan 20, 2022 11:32 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Brad Andersohn what a timeless post still valid if not more valid than when you wrote this post, Endre

Jan 28, 2023 10:13 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

I'm going to be "giving away" the agent goal planner app to all my friends in real estate who don't have or aren't already using it.

http://agentgoalplanner.com is retiring and the community (and industry) deserve a break today!

I'll share a post here shortly letting folks know how to access/download a copy. You can use it to set financial goals, then apply this rent-card tool to target prospects and you're off to the races! 

Looking forward to witnessing all your successes.  :-)

Feb 01, 2023 09:55 AM
Charles Ross - eXp Realty LLC
eXp Realty LLC Salina Group - Salina, KS
Love To Help People

Excellent information, Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day and a blessed week.

Feb 03, 2023 02:33 AM
Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant
Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Brad Andersohn Great to see you in the Rain again, like me I have not been active. I plan to get back blogging again more often.

PS. look forward to your rent to own Google Drive spreadsheet, thank you in advance!

HAPPY EASTER Brad

Apr 09, 2023 11:54 AM