Rental Property ROI Calculator
Investment Analysis
Understanding Rental Property Investment Metrics
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, but it requires precise financial analysis. This Rental Property ROI Calculator is designed to help investors determine the profitability of a potential purchase by analyzing Cash Flow, Cash-on-Cash Return, and Cap Rate.
How to Calculate Rental Cash Flow
Cash flow is the net income generated by a property after all expenses are paid. A positive cash flow indicates that the property is generating profit month-over-month.
The formula used in this calculator is:
- Total Income: Monthly Rent.
- Total Expenses: Mortgage Payment (Principal & Interest) + Property Taxes + Insurance + HOA Fees + Maintenance/Vacancy Reserves.
- Cash Flow = Total Income – Total Expenses.
Expert tip: Always budget for "Phantom Costs" like vacancy and maintenance (typically 5-10% of gross rent) to avoid overestimating your profit.
What is Cash-on-Cash ROI?
Cash-on-Cash Return on Investment (ROI) measures the annual return on the actual cash you invested, rather than the total loan amount. It is calculated as:
(Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) × 100
For example, if you invest $50,000 as a down payment and the property generates $5,000 in annual profit, your Cash-on-Cash ROI is 10%. This metric is crucial for comparing real estate performance against stocks or bonds.
Cap Rate vs. ROI
While ROI looks at your specific leverage (loan), the Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) evaluates the property's profitability assuming it was bought with all cash. It helps compare the intrinsic value of different properties regardless of financing.
Cap Rate = (Net Operating Income / Purchase Price) × 100
A higher Cap Rate generally implies a better deal, though it often comes with higher risk in lower-value neighborhoods.