.seo-calc-wrapper {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
background: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.seo-calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.seo-calc-header h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.seo-calc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.seo-calc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.seo-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.seo-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #444;
font-size: 0.9em;
}
.seo-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.seo-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.3);
}
.seo-section-title {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #2980b9;
border-bottom: 2px solid #2980b9;
padding-bottom: 5px;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.seo-calc-btn {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 5px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
}
.seo-calc-btn:hover {
background: #219150;
}
.seo-results {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 5px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
margin-top: 20px;
display: none;
}
.seo-result-item {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
padding-bottom: 10px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.seo-result-item:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
}
.seo-result-item span.label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #555;
}
.seo-result-item span.value {
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.seo-result-item.highlight {
background-color: #f0f8ff;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 4px;
border: 1px solid #b6e0ff;
}
.seo-result-item.highlight span.value {
color: #2980b9;
font-size: 1.2em;
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.seo-result-item.cashflow {
background-color: #e8f8f5;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 4px;
border: 1px solid #a3e4d7;
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.seo-result-item.cashflow span.value {
color: #27ae60;
font-size: 1.3em;
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.seo-article-content {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.seo-article-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.seo-article-content h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.seo-article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.seo-article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
padding-left: 20px;
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.seo-article-content li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
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function calculateRentalROI() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var purchasePrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById('purchasePrice').value) || 0;
var closingCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById('closingCosts').value) || 0;
var downPayment = parseFloat(document.getElementById('downPayment').value) || 0;
var interestRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('interestRate').value) || 0;
var loanTerm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loanTerm').value) || 0;
var monthlyRent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyRent').value) || 0;
var propertyTaxAnnual = parseFloat(document.getElementById('propertyTax').value) || 0;
var insuranceAnnual = parseFloat(document.getElementById('insurance').value) || 0;
var hoaMonthly = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hoa').value) || 0;
var vacancyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('vacancy').value) || 0;
var repairsRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('repairs').value) || 0;
var capexRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('capex').value) || 0;
var managementRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('management').value) || 0;
// 2. Calculate Mortgage (Principal & Interest)
var loanAmount = purchasePrice – downPayment;
var monthlyRate = (interestRate / 100) / 12;
var totalMonths = loanTerm * 12;
var monthlyPI = 0;
if (loanAmount > 0 && interestRate > 0) {
monthlyPI = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalMonths)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalMonths) – 1);
} else if (loanAmount > 0 && interestRate === 0) {
monthlyPI = loanAmount / totalMonths;
}
// 3. Calculate Monthly Operating Expenses
var monthlyTax = propertyTaxAnnual / 12;
var monthlyIns = insuranceAnnual / 12;
var vacancyCost = monthlyRent * (vacancyRate / 100);
var repairsCost = monthlyRent * (repairsRate / 100);
var capexCost = monthlyRent * (capexRate / 100);
var managementCost = monthlyRent * (managementRate / 100);
var totalOperatingExpenses = monthlyTax + monthlyIns + hoaMonthly + vacancyCost + repairsCost + capexCost + managementCost;
var totalExpenses = totalOperatingExpenses + monthlyPI;
// 4. Calculate Key Metrics
var monthlyCashFlow = monthlyRent – totalExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
var totalCashInvested = downPayment + closingCosts;
var cashOnCash = 0;
if (totalCashInvested > 0) {
cashOnCash = (annualCashFlow / totalCashInvested) * 100;
}
var annualNOI = (monthlyRent * 12) – (totalOperatingExpenses * 12);
var capRate = 0;
if (purchasePrice > 0) {
capRate = (annualNOI / purchasePrice) * 100;
}
// 5. Update UI
document.getElementById('resMortgage').innerText = '$' + monthlyPI.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resExpenses').innerText = '$' + totalExpenses.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resCashFlow').innerText = '$' + monthlyCashFlow.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resAnnualCashFlow').innerText = '$' + annualCashFlow.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resNOI').innerText = '$' + (annualNOI).toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resCoC').innerText = cashOnCash.toFixed(2) + '%';
document.getElementById('resCapRate').innerText = capRate.toFixed(2) + '%';
// Show results
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}
Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator: The Ultimate Investment Tool
Successful real estate investing boils down to one critical metric: Cash Flow. Whether you are a seasoned investor or buying your first rental property, accurately calculating your potential returns is essential to avoiding costly mistakes. Our Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator is designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of your investment deal, accounting for all expenses including mortgage, taxes, insurance, vacancy, and maintenance.
How to Calculate Rental Property Cash Flow
Cash flow is the net amount of money moving into and out of a business. In real estate, positive cash flow means your monthly rental income exceeds all your monthly expenses. Here is the basic formula used by investors:
Cash Flow = Gross Rental Income – Total Expenses
While the formula looks simple, "Total Expenses" involves many hidden costs that new investors often overlook. To get an accurate number, you must account for:
- Principal & Interest (P&I): Your monthly mortgage payment.
- Taxes & Insurance: Annual property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums, divided by 12.
- Operating Expenses: HOA fees, property management, and utilities.
- Reserves: Money set aside for vacancy, repairs, and Capital Expenditures (CapEx) like a new roof or HVAC system.
Understanding the Calculator Inputs
To get the most out of this calculator, it is important to understand what each field represents:
1. Vacancy Rate
No property is occupied 100% of the time. A standard vacancy rate is between 5% and 10%. This allows you to set aside money for months when you are between tenants.
2. Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
CapEx refers to major expenses that don't happen monthly but are inevitable, such as replacing a water heater or repaving a driveway. Setting aside 5% to 10% of monthly rent ensures you have the funds when these big-ticket items break.
3. Cash on Cash Return (CoC)
This is arguably the most important metric for ROI. It measures the annual cash income earned on the cash you invested (Down Payment + Closing Costs). A CoC return of 8-12% is generally considered good in many markets, though this varies by strategy.
Why Cash Flow is "King" in Real Estate
While appreciation (the increase in property value over time) is a great wealth builder, it is speculative. Cash flow, however, is tangible income you receive every month. Positive cash flow ensures the property pays for itself, reducing your risk and allowing you to weather market downturns without paying out of pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 50% Rule in real estate?
The 50% rule is a quick "back of the napkin" estimation method. It suggests that 50% of your gross rental income will go towards operating expenses (excluding the mortgage). While useful for screening, you should always use a detailed calculator like the one above for a final analysis.
How do I estimate property taxes?
Property tax rates vary significantly by county. You can usually find the current tax amount on local county assessor websites or real estate listing portals like Zillow or Redfin. A safe estimate in the US is often between 1% and 2.5% of the property value annually.
What is a good Cap Rate?
Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) measures the return on investment if you bought the property all cash. It helps compare the profitability of different properties irrespective of financing. Generally, a higher Cap Rate indicates a better return (and potentially higher risk), with 4% to 10% being common ranges depending on the location.