Thinking About Renting Instead of Selling? Read This First

April 2026 | Team Linda Carter

When your home sits on the market longer than expected, frustration can set in fast. At first, it feels confusing. Then it starts to feel stressful. And before long, many homeowners begin asking the same question: Should I just rent it instead?

On the surface, renting can sound like a simple backup plan. But becoming what many call an “accidental landlord” is a much bigger decision than most people realize. It means you planned to sell, didn’t get the traction or price you hoped for, and are now considering turning your property into a rental instead.

And lately, that’s happening more often.

Why the Number of Accidental Landlords Is Rising

If you’re weighing the choice between renting and selling, the first thing to know is this: you’re not alone. According to Zillow, about 2.3% of homes listed for rent were previously listed for sale. That may sound like a small number, but it is the highest share in nearly six years.

That means more homeowners are facing the same crossroads right now. But before you make the switch yourself, it’s worth slowing down and looking at the full picture. Here are three important questions to ask first.

1. Would Your House Actually Work as a Rental?

Not every home is automatically a strong rental property. What makes sense for your situation depends on your location, your home’s condition, and what the rental market looks like in your area.

Ask yourself:

• If you’re moving away, how will you handle repairs and ongoing maintenance from a distance?
• Does your home need updates or repairs before it is truly rental-ready?
• Are there a lot of rental vacancies in your area?
• What monthly rent could you realistically expect?

At the heart of any rental market is the balance between supply and demand. If tenants are competing for limited options, rents tend to rise. But if renters have plenty of choices, prices can soften. So even if your home can be rented, that doesn’t automatically mean it will rent quickly or for the amount you need.

If your property would struggle to stand out or command the right rent, that’s something to take seriously.

2. Are You Ready To Be a Landlord?

This is the part many homeowners underestimate. On paper, renting can sound like easy passive income. In reality, being a landlord is often very hands-on.

That can mean:

• Taking late-night calls about broken air conditioning or plumbing issues
• Following up on late or missed rent payments
• Paying for unexpected repairs
• Cleaning up or repairing damage between tenants

Even with great tenants, there are still responsibilities, surprises, and costs that come with managing a property. And if you decide to hire a property manager, that can help with the workload, but it also adds another expense to your monthly numbers.

3. Have You Run the Real Numbers?

There’s also the financial side to think through carefully. Renting out a home comes with extra expenses that many sellers don’t fully account for at first.

According to Bankrate, some of the biggest costs can include:

• Higher insurance premiums – landlord insurance typically costs about 25% more
• Property management fees – often around 10% of the monthly rent
• Routine maintenance and repairs
• Advertising and tenant placement costs
• Vacancy gaps – times when you are still paying the mortgage without rental income coming in

For some homeowners, that level of responsibility is manageable. For others, it ends up being more time, stress, and expense than they expected.

Before You Rent, Revisit Your Selling Strategy

Before making any final decision, it’s worth having a serious conversation with your agent about adjusting your sales strategy first. Sometimes a home isn’t getting offers because there are no buyers. Other times, it’s because something about the pricing, presentation, or marketing isn’t lining up with what buyers are looking for right now.

In many cases, a few smart changes can make a major difference. A pricing reset, better photography, stronger marketing exposure, improved staging, or a fresh positioning strategy may be all it takes to get your listing moving again.

Renting can absolutely be the right move for the right person and the right property. But if you’re only considering it because your home didn’t get the traction you expected, there may be a better path forward.

Bottom Line

If you’re torn between selling and renting, make sure you weigh the pros and cons carefully. For some homeowners, keeping the property as a rental can make sense. For others, the hassle, risk, and added expense may not be worth it.

The key is not making a decision out of frustration. It’s making one based on the full picture.