You’re preparing to move soon, or you may have already moved, and your thumb is hovering over your realtor’s phone number, ready to call to discuss listing your home for sale. Perhaps this is your first home, and selling it leaves a bittersweet cavity in your chest, or maybe you’ve moved around quite a bit, and this isn’t your first rodeo.
But did you know that selling isn’t your only option? In fact, many homeowners find themselves at a crossroads of listing their home for sale or listing it for rent. You may not have ever planned to become a landlord, and you may still be uncertain about this as an option, but now you’re staring at a decision that can significantly impact your finances, flexibility, and long-term goals.
The truth is that there’s no universal right answer. Renting and selling are two very different paths, and each comes with its own tradeoffs.
In our Rental Dude series, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each decision, starting with some initial considerations in this blog. Each week, we’ll explore another consideration worth considering when making this pivotal decision, including written blogs and helpful videos featuring Chris Good, the Rental Dude.
Selling: Clarity and Simplicity
Selling is often the first avenue homeowners explore when moving, and for some, it’s the only avenue considered. You convert your home into a lump sum of cash, close out this chapter, and move on without any further ongoing responsibilities tied to that house. For those who want to simplify their financial picture or reduce transitional stress, this simple and clean option is appealing.
Selling can also make sense if you need immediate access to equity, whether that’s to fund your next purchase, pay down other debt, or use it toward a future goal. However, once the home is sold, you no longer have any financial interest in the house, including future appreciation, growing equity, and the opportunity for added cash flow through rental income. If you’re interested in holding onto these interests, then renting may be a worthwhile option to consider.
Renting: Income, Equity, and Optionality
Renting your house introduces a different kind of opportunity. Instead of a one-time payout, you’re creating an income-producing asset that can continue working for you after you move on to your next home.
By renting, you may:
- Generate monthly cash flow
- Continue building equity as the mortgage is paid down
- Benefit from long-term home value appreciation
- Retain the option to move back someday, should you decide to
For homeowners relocating temporarily or those who are struggling to close the door on their personal attachment to a house filled with fond memories, renting can be especially appealing. Rather than making a permanent decision during a stressful transitional time, renting out the home allows you to reassess your plans in a year or two.
With that said, renting also comes with responsibility. While property management companies like United Properties of West Michigan can help mitigate much of the stressful or overwhelming day-to-day tasks, you’re still committing to ongoing maintenance upkeep and long-term financial planning.
Why the Numbers Matter
Many homeowners approach the rent-vs-sell decision emotionally, which is understandable. Your home carries memories, effort, and sentimental value. However, this decision is best made when emotions are paired with data to ensure you’re making the best decision for you and your goals.
That’s where running the numbers becomes a critical piece to decision-making. Factors like your mortgage balance, interest rate, expected rent, operating costs, and long-term appreciation can dramatically alter the outcome.
At United Properties, we encourage you to slow down and look at both scenarios side by side. One tool that was designed specifically for this purpose is our Rent vs Sell Calculator, which allows you to compare:
- Net proceeds from selling today
- Potential long-term wealth from renting
- Cash flow, equity growth, and future value over time
Seeing the numbers laid out clearly can help bring clarity to your decision, and it might sometimes surprise you!
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding
As you weigh your options, consider:
- Do I want ongoing involvement with this property?
- Would renting support or strain my current lifestyle?
- How long do I plan to hold this as a real estate asset?
- What does flexibility mean to me over the next few years?
The Takeaway: Pause, Consider, Then Decide
Renting and selling aren’t competing strategies; they’re tools. The right choice depends on your timeline, risk tolerance, financial goals, and capacity for involvement.
Before you decide, take time to understand both sides. We encourage you to watch our first Rental Dude video, where Chris expands on the topics discussed here.
Look out for our next installment in this mini-series, where we’ll dive deeper into one factor that can tip the scale: your mortgage interest rate and why a low rate can change the entire equation.
Sergio joined United Properties in 2020. He is a graduate from Pickens Technical College as a Nurse Assistant and as a Small Animal Care Provider in 2010. In the past nine years, Sergio has had various jobs, all focused around customer service.
Eden joined United Properties in 2016. Eden graduated from Davenport University in 2015 with an Associate’s in Business Administration. She’s the Executive Assistant to the Owner of United Properties, with a focus on procedural documentation. She enjoys playing guitar, reading, and doing outdoor activities. Eden is trilingual and able to communicate in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. 
David joined the United Properties team in 2019 as the Director of Client Relations and Business Development. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading all leasing, application underwriting, tenant relations, accounts receivable, process improvement, remote workers, and general office functionality (essentially anything outside of maintenance and service). David comes from a longstanding career at a Fortune 15 company primarily in a sales and customer service leadership role.
Matthew joined the United Properties in early 2020. He is a graduate of Lee University with a bachelor’s in Intercultural Studies and also a master’s in Discipleship and Christian Formation. Matthew serves as a project manager over the Rent Ready process. He has 20 years of construction experience and over 10 years of experience in leadership positions. He oversees a team of technicians and schedules outside vendors getting properties back to the United rent-ready standard so that they can be leased again.
Cristina joined United Properties as the Accounting and Billing Team Lead in October of 2020. She has experience as a technology professional, an English-Spanish translator, and has worked the past several years as the treasurer of her condominium.
Rick joined United Properties in 2020 as a Service Coordinator and then later transitioned to the Collections team, where his customer service shines. Rick has an extensive background in customer service and enjoys being able to resolve issues. He and his wife are raising their two kids and in his free time, Rick enjoys making his own homemade jerky.
Harriet joined United Properties as a Accounting & Billing Specialist in February of 2021. She has experience as a bookkeeper and a Property Manager for a Real Estate account. She was a working student during her college days. Harriet loves cleaning because she thinks it is therapeutic. She also loves watching series during her free time, and she’s a fur mom of one dog. Her inspiration to work every day is her family.
Diego has an extensive background in customer service and, most recently in Maintenance and
Paulina joined United in early 2021 as a Leasing Assistant. She has a background studying social work, with several years of experience in customer service. She speaks English and Spanish fluently and loves to learn. Paulina enjoys small road trips and cold, rainy weather. Her dog is her favorite thing in the world.
Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial strategies and public accounting and is studying a masters in Blockchain and Fintech regulation. She has previous experience as a customer service representative. She speaks English and Spanish. She loves taking long walks with her three dogs, hiking and road tripping during the weekends.
Chris Good is new to the United Properties Team since June 2022 as a Business Development Manager. With years of experience in both the construction industry (Master Electrician) and the Real Estate industry (Broker), he will closely work with new and experienced investors to facilitate their real estate goals.
Melba Alvarez
Enrique Vergara (Henry)
Alyssa Conklin
Leo Lacson
Dhyana Aragon
Joksan Gomez
Soroya has been with United Properties since March 2025. Her problem-solving, time management, and communication skills help her shine when working collaboratively with tenants and prospects. She is currently pursuing a degree in Cyber Security at Davenport University. Thanks to her tech-savviness, she excels at navigating and troubleshooting common technology and software issues.
Marlon Joined United Properties in 2025 as a service coordinator. He arrived with solid experience in customer service, property management, and marketing. If you need assistance with either a new or a previous situation, he will be more than glad to help you. Depending on the season, he likes spending time outdoors, going hiking, or simply taking a stroll around town to see what’s new in the city.
Hector began his career in customer service in 2017, gaining valuable experience in client support and communication. In 2021, he transitioned into sales roles, where he developed a strong ability to drive results and build relationships. Since 2023, he has worked in maintenance, IT, and tech support, expanding his skills in troubleshooting, systems support, and hands-on problem-solving. His background combines over eight years of customer-facing roles with a growing expertise in technical support and operations.
Gar Allison joined United Properties as Director of Operations in August 2025. He brings a decade of experience, covering construction project management, supply chain, sales, marketing, and regulatory compliance. Before that, he spent five years as an Engines Sales Representative in Kansas City, MO, shortly after graduating from Davenport University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Junior joined United Properties as a Leasing Assistant in February 2026 with a background in customer service and insurance claims. Junior is a lifelong learning with a genuine passion for helping people, especially when it comes to finding a place they can truly call home, and Property Management is where he feels most connected to this purpose. Outside of work, Junior is a proud father of two children that he raises with his wife, who constantly inspires him to grow beyond his limits while nourishing his hobbies through creative outlets like music, including guitar and singing.