#rental-property-calculator-container .calc-box {
background: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container h2 {
margin-top: 0;
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 24px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
text-align: center;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .form-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
#rental-property-calculator-container .form-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 14px;
color: #555;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container input:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.2);
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .section-title {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2980b9;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container button {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container button:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .results-area {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background: #fff;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
padding: 20px;
margin-top: 20px;
display: none;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
font-size: 16px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .result-row.total {
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 18px;
border-top: 2px solid #eee;
padding-top: 10px;
margin-top: 10px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .positive {
color: #27ae60;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .negative {
color: #c0392b;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .article-section h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 22px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .article-section p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 16px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .article-section ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
#rental-property-calculator-container .article-section li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
function calculateRentalCashFlow() {
// Get Inputs
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('purchasePrice').value);
var downPayment = parseFloat(document.getElementById('downPayment').value);
var interestRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('interestRate').value);
var loanTerm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loanTerm').value);
var closingCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById('closingCosts').value);
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyRent').value);
var propertyTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('propertyTax').value);
var insurance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('insurance').value);
var maintenancePercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('maintenance').value);
var vacancyPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('vacancy').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(price) || isNaN(downPayment) || isNaN(interestRate) || isNaN(loanTerm) || isNaN(rent)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for all required fields.");
return;
}
// Loan Calculations
var loanAmount = price – downPayment;
var monthlyRate = (interestRate / 100) / 12;
var numberOfPayments = loanTerm * 12;
var mortgagePayment = 0;
if (interestRate > 0) {
mortgagePayment = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numberOfPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numberOfPayments) – 1);
} else {
mortgagePayment = loanAmount / numberOfPayments;
}
// Expense Calculations
var monthlyTax = propertyTax / 12;
var monthlyInsurance = insurance / 12;
var monthlyMaintenance = rent * (maintenancePercent / 100);
var monthlyVacancy = rent * (vacancyPercent / 100);
var totalOperatingExpenses = monthlyTax + monthlyInsurance + monthlyMaintenance + monthlyVacancy;
var totalMonthlyExpenses = totalOperatingExpenses + mortgagePayment;
// Cash Flow Calculations
var monthlyCashFlow = rent – totalMonthlyExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
// ROI Calculations
var totalCashInvested = downPayment + closingCosts;
var cashOnCash = 0;
if (totalCashInvested > 0) {
cashOnCash = (annualCashFlow / totalCashInvested) * 100;
}
// Cap Rate Calculation
// NOI = Annual Income – Annual Operating Expenses (excludes mortgage)
var annualNOI = (rent * 12) – (totalOperatingExpenses * 12);
var capRate = 0;
if (price > 0) {
capRate = (annualNOI / price) * 100;
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('results').style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('resIncome').innerText = formatCurrency(rent);
document.getElementById('resMortgage').innerText = "-" + formatCurrency(mortgagePayment);
document.getElementById('resExpenses').innerText = "-" + formatCurrency(totalOperatingExpenses);
var cashFlowElement = document.getElementById('resCashFlow');
cashFlowElement.innerText = formatCurrency(monthlyCashFlow);
if (monthlyCashFlow >= 0) {
cashFlowElement.className = "positive";
} else {
cashFlowElement.className = "negative";
}
document.getElementById('resCoC').innerText = cashOnCash.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById('resCapRate').innerText = capRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
}
function formatCurrency(num) {
return "$" + num.toFixed(2).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+\.)/g, '$&,');
}
Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
Purchase & Loan Details
Income & Expenses
Monthly Financials
Total Monthly Income:
$0.00
Mortgage Payment (P&I):
-$0.00
Operating Expenses (Tax, Ins, Maint, Vac):
-$0.00
Monthly Cash Flow:
$0.00
Investment Returns
Cash on Cash Return:
0.00%
Cap Rate:
0.00%
Understanding Rental Property Cash Flow
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, but simply buying a property doesn't guarantee profit. The most critical metric for any buy-and-hold investor is Cash Flow. This calculator helps you determine if a potential rental property will put money in your pocket (positive cash flow) or take money out (negative cash flow) every month.
How This Calculator Works
To accurately project your returns, you must account for both the acquisition costs and the ongoing operating expenses. Here is a breakdown of the key inputs used in this calculator:
- Purchase Price & Down Payment: These determine your loan amount. A larger down payment reduces your monthly mortgage but increases your initial cash investment.
- Interest Rate & Term: These dictate your monthly Principal and Interest (P&I) payments. Even a small difference in rate can significantly impact cash flow.
- Operating Expenses: Many new investors overlook items like Maintenance (saving for repairs) and Vacancy (periods without a tenant). A standard rule of thumb is to allocate 5-10% of rent for each.
Key Metrics Explained
This tool provides three critical outputs to help you evaluate the deal:
- Monthly Cash Flow: The net profit remaining after all expenses and mortgage payments are made. Positive cash flow is essential for long-term sustainability.
- Cash on Cash (CoC) Return: This measures the annual return on the actual cash you invested (Down Payment + Closing Costs). It allows you to compare real estate returns against other investments like stocks.
- Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate): Calculated as Net Operating Income (NOI) divided by the Purchase Price. It represents the potential return of the property if you bought it in all cash, helpful for comparing properties regardless of financing.
What is a Good ROI for Rental Property?
While targets vary by market and strategy, many investors aim for a Cash on Cash return of 8-12%. However, in high-appreciation markets, investors might accept lower cash flow (or even break-even) in exchange for long-term equity growth. Always ensure you have sufficient reserves for unexpected repairs regardless of your projected returns.