#rental-calc-wrapper {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
#rental-calc-wrapper h2 {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 25px;
}
.calc-row {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 20px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.calc-col {
flex: 1;
min-width: 250px;
}
.calc-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.calc-input-group label {
display: block;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 5px;
color: #444;
font-size: 14px;
}
.calc-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.calc-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(52,152,219,0.3);
}
#btn-calculate {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
#btn-calculate:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
#results-area {
margin-top: 30px;
background-color: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
display: none;
}
.result-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
.result-item {
text-align: center;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border-radius: 6px;
}
.result-label {
font-size: 13px;
color: #7f8c8d;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.result-value {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 800;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.positive-flow { color: #27ae60; }
.negative-flow { color: #c0392b; }
/* Article Styles */
.seo-article {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
font-family: 'Georgia', serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.seo-article h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #27ae60;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 40px;
}
.seo-article h3 {
color: #2980b9;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.seo-article p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
}
.seo-article ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.seo-article li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.metric-box {
background: #e8f6f3;
padding: 15px;
border-left: 5px solid #1abc9c;
margin: 20px 0;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.result-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
function calculateRental() {
// 1. Get Values
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('purchasePrice').value);
var downPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('downPaymentPct').value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('interestRate').value);
var term = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loanTerm').value);
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyRent').value);
var expenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyExpenses').value);
var vacancy = parseFloat(document.getElementById('vacancyRate').value);
// 2. Validate
if (isNaN(price) || isNaN(downPct) || isNaN(rate) || isNaN(term) || isNaN(rent) || isNaN(expenses) || isNaN(vacancy)) {
alert("Please enter valid numeric values for all fields.");
return;
}
// 3. Logic
// Loan Calculations
var downPaymentAmount = price * (downPct / 100);
var loanAmount = price – downPaymentAmount;
var monthlyRate = (rate / 100) / 12;
var totalPayments = term * 12;
var monthlyMortgage = 0;
if (rate === 0) {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount / totalPayments;
} else {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments) – 1);
}
// Vacancy Calculation
var monthlyVacancyCost = rent * (vacancy / 100);
// Operating Expenses (Excluding Mortgage)
var totalOperatingExpenses = expenses + monthlyVacancyCost;
// Net Operating Income (NOI)
// NOI = (Gross Income – Operating Expenses) * 12
var monthlyNOI = rent – totalOperatingExpenses;
var annualNOI = monthlyNOI * 12;
// Cash Flow
// Cash Flow = NOI – Mortgage Payment
var monthlyCashFlow = monthlyNOI – monthlyMortgage;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
// Returns
// Cap Rate = (Annual NOI / Purchase Price) * 100
var capRate = (annualNOI / price) * 100;
// Cash on Cash Return = (Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) * 100
// Assuming Total Cash Invested = Down Payment (simplified)
var cocReturn = 0;
if (downPaymentAmount > 0) {
cocReturn = (annualCashFlow / downPaymentAmount) * 100;
}
// 4. Formatting Helper
var formatCurrency = function(num) {
return '$' + num.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
};
var formatPct = function(num) {
return num.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + '%';
};
// 5. Output
var cashFlowEl = document.getElementById('resCashFlow');
cashFlowEl.innerHTML = formatCurrency(monthlyCashFlow);
if(monthlyCashFlow >= 0) {
cashFlowEl.className = "result-value positive-flow";
} else {
cashFlowEl.className = "result-value negative-flow";
}
var cocEl = document.getElementById('resCoc');
cocEl.innerHTML = formatPct(cocReturn);
if(cocReturn >= 0) {
cocEl.className = "result-value positive-flow";
} else {
cocEl.className = "result-value negative-flow";
}
document.getElementById('resCapRate').innerHTML = formatPct(capRate);
document.getElementById('resNoi').innerHTML = formatCurrency(annualNOI);
document.getElementById('resMortgage').innerHTML = formatCurrency(monthlyMortgage);
// Show Results
document.getElementById('results-area').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding Rental Property Cash Flow Analysis
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, but simply buying a property and renting it out doesn't guarantee a profit. To succeed, investors must rely on data, not intuition. This Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator is designed to help you analyze the financial viability of a potential investment deal.
Why Cash Flow is King
Cash flow is the net amount of cash moving in and out of a business. In real estate, positive cash flow means the rental income covers all expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs) and leaves you with profit every month. Negative cash flow means the property costs you money to hold.
While appreciation (the property increasing in value) is a nice bonus, seasoned investors prioritize cash flow to ensure the asset pays for itself and generates immediate income.
Key Metrics in This Calculator
1. Net Operating Income (NOI)
Formula: Gross Rental Income – Operating Expenses (excluding mortgage)
NOI calculates the profitability of the property itself, regardless of how it is financed. It includes income minus expenses like property management, taxes, insurance, and maintenance, but it excludes mortgage payments. Lenders often look at this number to determine if the property generates enough income to service debt.
2. Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate)
Formula: (Annual NOI / Purchase Price) × 100
The Cap Rate is a universal standard for comparing the return on investment of different properties. It represents the percentage return an investor would receive on an all-cash purchase. Generally, a higher Cap Rate indicates a better return, though it may also come with higher risk.
3. Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC)
Formula: (Annual Pre-Tax Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) × 100
While Cap Rate looks at the property, Cash-on-Cash Return looks at your money. It measures the return on the actual cash you invested (down payment + closing costs + repairs). This is often the most important metric for investors using leverage (loans), as it shows how hard your specific dollars are working.
How to Use This Calculator
To get the most accurate results from the tool above, ensure you include all hidden costs:
- Vacancy Rate: Always account for periods where the property sits empty. A standard conservative estimate is 5% to 8%.
- Monthly Expenses: Don't just list taxes and insurance. Remember to include HOA fees, a budget for repairs (maintenance), and property management fees if you aren't managing it yourself.
- Down Payment: Changing your down payment percentage significantly alters your Cash-on-Cash return and monthly mortgage obligation.
Interpreting Your Results
If your Monthly Cash Flow is green, the property pays for itself and provides income. If it is red, you will need to contribute money monthly to keep the property.
A "good" Cash-on-Cash return varies by market and strategy, but many investors aim for 8% to 12% or higher. By adjusting the purchase price or rent estimates in the calculator, you can determine the maximum offer price that makes sense for your financial goals.