function calculateRentalCashFlow() {
// Get Input Values
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById("purchasePrice").value);
var downPmt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("downPayment").value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("interestRate").value);
var term = parseFloat(document.getElementById("loanTerm").value);
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rentalIncome").value);
var tax = parseFloat(document.getElementById("propertyTax").value);
var ins = parseFloat(document.getElementById("insurance").value);
var maint = parseFloat(document.getElementById("maintenance").value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(price) || isNaN(downPmt) || isNaN(rate) || isNaN(term) || isNaN(income)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for all required fields.");
return;
}
// 1. Calculate Loan Details
var loanAmount = price – downPmt;
var monthlyRate = (rate / 100) / 12;
var totalPayments = term * 12;
// Mortgage Calculation (Principal + Interest)
var monthlyMortgage = 0;
if (rate === 0) {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount / totalPayments;
} else {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments) – 1);
}
// 2. Calculate Expenses
var operatingExpenses = tax + ins + maint;
var totalMonthlyExpenses = monthlyMortgage + operatingExpenses;
// 3. Calculate Cash Flow
var monthlyCashFlow = income – totalMonthlyExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
// 4. Calculate ROI (Cash on Cash)
// Total Cash Invested is approximated as Down Payment here.
// In a more complex calc, closing costs would be added.
var totalCashInvested = downPmt;
var roi = 0;
if (totalCashInvested > 0) {
roi = (annualCashFlow / totalCashInvested) * 100;
}
// Display Results
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
});
document.getElementById("resLoanAmount").innerHTML = formatter.format(loanAmount);
document.getElementById("resMortgage").innerHTML = formatter.format(monthlyMortgage);
document.getElementById("resTotalExpenses").innerHTML = formatter.format(totalMonthlyExpenses);
// Color coding for cash flow
var cashFlowElem = document.getElementById("resMonthlyCashFlow");
cashFlowElem.innerHTML = formatter.format(monthlyCashFlow);
cashFlowElem.style.color = monthlyCashFlow >= 0 ? "#27ae60" : "#c0392b";
var annualCashFlowElem = document.getElementById("resAnnualCashFlow");
annualCashFlowElem.innerHTML = formatter.format(annualCashFlow);
annualCashFlowElem.style.color = annualCashFlow >= 0 ? "#27ae60" : "#c0392b";
var roiElem = document.getElementById("resROI");
roiElem.innerHTML = roi.toFixed(2) + "%";
roiElem.style.color = roi >= 0 ? "#27ae60" : "#c0392b";
// Show result container
document.getElementById("result").style.display = "block";
}
Understanding Your Rental Property Cash Flow Analysis
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, but simply buying a property doesn't guarantee profit. The key to successful real estate investing is positive cash flow. Our Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator helps investors determine if a potential property will generate income or drain resources.
What is Cash Flow in Real Estate?
Cash flow represents the net amount of cash moving in and out of your investment business. In the context of a rental property, it is calculated as:
Cash Flow = Total Rental Income – Total Expenses
Total expenses include your mortgage payment (principal and interest), taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. A positive cash flow means the property pays for itself and puts money in your pocket every month. A negative cash flow means you must contribute your own money to keep the property running.
Key Metrics Calculated
Monthly Mortgage (P&I): This calculates your debt service payment based on the loan amount, interest rate, and term. It uses the standard amortization formula.
Total Monthly Expenses: This sums up your mortgage plus holding costs like property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance reserves.
Cash on Cash ROI: This is arguably the most important metric for rental investors. It measures the annual return on the actual cash you invested (primarily your down payment). An ROI of 8-12% is often considered a solid benchmark for rental properties.
How to Use This Calculator
To get the most accurate results, ensure you estimate expenses conservatively:
Purchase Price & Down Payment: Enter the agreed price and your cash contribution. The difference is your loan amount.
Interest Rate: Check current mortgage rates for investment properties, which are typically 0.5% – 1% higher than primary residence rates.
Expenses: Don't forget to budget for maintenance! A common rule of thumb is to set aside 10-15% of the rent for repairs and vacancies.
Why Cash on Cash Return Matters
Unlike standard ROI, Cash on Cash Return focuses specifically on the money you have locked up in the deal. If you buy a $200,000 house with $40,000 down and it generates $4,000 in annual profit, your Cash on Cash return is 10%. This metric allows you to compare the profitability of real estate against other investment vehicles like stocks or bonds.