Rental Property Calculator
Analyze potential rental investments with cash flow, cap rate, and ROI calculations
Monthly Expense Breakdown
Monthly rent is $2,500 compared with 1% of purchase price ($3,000). This is a first-pass comparison only, not a cash-flow forecast. Model property-specific rent, vacancy, taxes, insurance, maintenance, management, financing, closing costs, and capital expenditures before deciding.
Rental Cash Flow, Cap Rate, and ROI
Understanding key real estate metrics helps you evaluate potential rental property investments objectively.
Key Metrics Explained
Each metric tells a different part of the investment story.
- Cap Rate: Annual NOI / Purchase Price. Good for comparing properties.
- Cash-on-Cash: Annual cash flow / cash invested. Your actual ROI.
- NOI: Net Operating Income = Rent - Operating Expenses (no mortgage).
- Total ROI: Cash flow + appreciation + equity buildup.
Screening Ratios and Property-Specific Assumptions
Use ratios only as first-pass comparisons, then model the property-specific assumptions that drive cash flow and returns.
- Use property-specific rent, vacancy, taxes, insurance, maintenance, management, financing, closing-cost, and capital-expenditure assumptions; a rent-to-price ratio is only a first-pass comparison, not a cash-flow forecast.
- Operating expenses vary by property and market. Model taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, management, utilities, repairs, and capital expenditures with property-specific assumptions rather than a fixed percentage.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Don't forget these often-overlooked expenses that can eat into returns.
- Capital expenditures: Model major repairs such as roof, HVAC, and appliances using property-specific assumptions.
- Turnover costs: Cleaning, repairs, vacancy between tenants.
- Legal/eviction: Budget for occasional problem tenants.
- Property management: Include the fee structure applicable to the property if not self-managing.