What should I bid on a rental? A Max-Bid calculator

Your Max-Bid is the highest price at which the rent still covers the loan payment and the monthly costs. Pay more than that and the rental costs you money every month. Enter your own numbers below.

Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · Review by April 28, 2027

How the Max-Bid is worked out

For a given price, the monthly cash flow is the rent minus the loan's principal and interest and minus your monthly costs: vacancy and maintenance as a share of the rent, plus property taxes and insurance. The calculator searches prices from $1,000 to $3,000,000 for the highest one where that cash flow is still above $0. That price is your break-even Max-Bid. It is marked (est.) because it is only as good as the numbers you put in.

• The loan is a fixed-rate, fully amortizing mortgage on the price minus your down payment.
• At 100% down there's no loan payment, so the price doesn't change cash flow, and the calculator says so instead of naming a price.
• Not counted: closing costs, repairs before you can rent it, HOA dues, utilities you pay and property management. Fold any you expect into the maintenance %, or know the real Max-Bid is lower.
• Kept in the app's ranges: down 0–100%, rate 0–25%, term 1–40 years, and vacancy and maintenance 0–90% each.

What the app adds

This is the simple version. In DoorWorth Pro, the app underwrites the full deal: cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and the 1% rule at your terms. It shows the Max-Bid on every listing in Find deals and gives you a second price to stay under for $200 a month of cash flow.

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