Maximum offer anchored to profit margin
For fix-and-flip investors who need to work backward from profit target, repair scope, and ARV to lock in the highest defensible purchase price.
Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) Calculator
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Create Free AccountWhat it does
The MAO Calculator works backward from your profit target and estimated after-repair value to determine the absolute maximum price you can pay for a property while hitting your return goals. Input your required profit amount or percentage, projected ARV, and estimated costs — the calculator shows your offer ceiling so you never overpay.
Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) prevents deal fever and emotional bidding by anchoring your offer to math instead of feelings. By knowing your number before touring properties, you make faster decisions, lose fewer deals to overbidders, and maintain discipline across your entire pipeline.
Who it's for
- Fix-and-flip investors making aggressive offers and needing to know their ceiling instantly
- Wholesalers evaluating contracts and calculating maximum assignment fees based on MAO
- Real estate wholesalers structuring deals for end-buyer investors and validating feasibility
- New investors establishing offer discipline and avoiding the most common path to deal failure
How it works
Enter target profit
Input your desired profit in dollars or as a percentage of ARV.
Estimate rehab and holding costs
Add repair budget, loan interest, taxes, insurance, and utilities.
Calculate maximum offer
The calculator subtracts costs and profit from ARV to reveal your ceiling.
Why it matters
Instantly reverse-engineer purchase price from profit goal
Prevent paying too much and killing your deal economics
Account for all repair costs and holding expenses upfront
Compare scenarios across multiple properties in seconds
Unlock all 67 calculators + AI + reports
Full access to Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) Calculator, 66 other calculators, live FRED rates, AI deal verdicts, conservative/base/optimistic scenario projections, printable reports, and vault storage.
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What every calculator includes
67 Calculators
Every investment strategy — rental, flip, BRRRR, mortgage, commercial, wealth building.
Scenario Projections
Conservative, base, and optimistic 1/2/5/10-year return modeling.
AI Deal Verdict
Claude-powered analysis — strengths, risks, and actionable recommendations.
Investor Vault
Save unlimited reports. Revisit, compare, and track every deal you've analyzed.
Print-Ready Reports
Professional PDF reports to share with agents, lenders, and partners.
Address Auto-Fill
Enter a property address to pre-fill value, rent, and tax data automatically.
Live FRED Rates
Mortgage rate fields pre-populate with Federal Reserve interest rate data.
Investment-Grade Math
Every formula audited against professional underwriting standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I use ARV or current market value?
Always use ARV (after-repair value) — it represents what the property will be worth post-renovation, which is your true exit value.
How much profit margin should I target?
Most flippers target 15–25% of ARV; some chase 30%+ in slower markets or 10–15% in hot markets where competition is tight.
Do I include financing costs in MAO?
Yes — loan interest, points, and all holding costs belong in 'repair and carrying' so your MAO reflects net profit.
What if I get an offer below MAO?
It's negotiation room. But if the property is fundamentally under your MAO, walk — leaving money on the table now compounds later.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes — create a free Investor Starter account to run 1 calculator per day. No credit card required. Upgrade to Core ($49/mo) for unlimited access to all 67 calculators.
How accurate are the results?
Results are only as accurate as your inputs. The formulas use industry-standard real estate investment math. Always verify with a licensed professional before committing capital.
Related calculators
Fix & Flip Profit Calculator
Estimate total flip profit after purchase, rehab, holding, financing, and closing costs.
Open calculatorAfter Repair Value (ARV) Calculator
Estimate post-renovation market value using recent comparable sales and adjustment factors.
Open calculatorDeal Analyzer Calculator
Score any deal across multiple strategies — cash flow, flip, BRRRR, and wholesale — in one view.
Open calculatorRehab Cost Estimator
Build an itemized repair budget by category before making an offer, so costs never blindside you.
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