Holding cost calculator
Most flippers estimate holding costs 30-40% low. Plug in your loan, rates, insurance and timeline; get the real monthly burn and the total over the hold.
Inputs
Power/gas standing charges + internet
Per month
Interest
$2,563
Council rates
$233
Insurance
$150
Utilities
$150
Total over hold
Holding cost (6 months)
$18,576
Run this on a real property?
FlipPro AI runs every calculator on this site against a real listing in seconds — including comp data, council zoning and reno scope. Open in the FlipPro app →
What counts as a holding cost?
Anything you pay to own the property between settlement and resale: loan interest, council rates, water and sewerage, building insurance, vacancy utilities (gas/ electricity standing charges, internet for CCTV), and land tax if you're holding above the threshold.
Why flippers underestimate
Three line items get missed. Vacancy utilities keep ticking even when no-one's there. The settlement-to-trades window is 3-4 weeks of carry before a single tradie arrives on site. Sale-side carry is the 60-120 days between "I finished the reno" and "I have the cheque". Add them up and you're often $5-7k above the spreadsheet figure.
How to budget realistically
Multiply your loan by your interest rate, then divide by 12 for the monthly carry. Add council rates ÷ 12, insurance ÷ 12, and a flat $150-250/mo for utilities. Multiply by your full timeline including the sale period — not just the build.