<prompt> Human: Im trying to decide between putting 30K into a rental property or 30K into stock market. a 30K down into a 200,000 home - 20 year mortgage, use the rent to payoff mortgage at 20 yearsr ate with 4 appreciation. so home is worth 440K. However, the rental income 1,250 would be taxable minus maintenance, repairs, etc would be taxable? So I would pay about 400month or 4,800 a year on taxes?Once the home appreciates to the expected 440k. And if I sell it - I would owe 440k-200k on taxes - 220k at 15?30K into stock market at 12 for 20 years 290,000 K. The taxes I would owe here would be 260k at 15?Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thank you!  <response>: Even without taking into account your question of taxes, you have a lot of assumptions about your rate of returns.Renting: you assume that the house will definitely appreciate at 4. It may, or it may not. You assume you can definitely rent for 1250, or that you will always have a tenant. There will be months you dont. You forget that some tenants will trash the place or skip out, leaving you on the hook. You are assuming you will never have to pay for repairs, which is unrealistic - over 20 years, you will need a new roof, new windows, new furnace, new carpet, etc. Not to mention minor day to day things you have to fix, like the fridge is not working, the sink is leaking, there is a pest infestation, etcStock market: you assume 12 rate of return is reasonable over 20 years its not; historically has been about 7. 