.rental-calculator-wrapper {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.calc-container {
background: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.calc-title {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 700;
}
.input-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.input-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 14px;
color: #495057;
}
.input-wrapper {
position: relative;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
}
.currency-symbol, .percent-symbol {
position: absolute;
color: #6c757d;
font-weight: 500;
}
.currency-symbol { left: 10px; }
.percent-symbol { right: 10px; }
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px 10px 10px 25px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
transition: border-color 0.15s ease-in-out;
}
.input-group input.has-percent {
padding-right: 25px;
padding-left: 10px;
}
.input-group input:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: 0;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 0.2rem rgba(0,123,255,.25);
}
.section-header {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
padding-bottom: 5px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #dee2e6;
color: #0056b3;
font-weight: bold;
}
.btn-calculate {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #28a745;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 6px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.btn-calculate:hover {
background-color: #218838;
}
.results-area {
margin-top: 30px;
background: #fff;
border: 1px solid #dee2e6;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 20px;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 500;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: 700;
font-size: 18px;
}
.cash-flow-positive {
color: #28a745;
}
.cash-flow-negative {
color: #dc3545;
}
.final-result {
background-color: #e8f5e9;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 4px;
margin-top: 15px;
border: 1px solid #c3e6cb;
}
.article-content h2 {
font-size: 28px;
margin-top: 30px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.article-content h3 {
font-size: 22px;
margin-top: 25px;
color: #34495e;
}
.article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.article-content li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.error-msg {
color: #dc3545;
text-align: center;
margin-top: 10px;
font-weight: bold;
display: none;
}
function calculateCashFlow() {
// Get inputs
var monthlyRent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyRent').value) || 0;
var otherIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherIncome').value) || 0;
var mortgage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mortgagePayment').value) || 0;
var tax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('propertyTax').value) || 0;
var insurance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('insurance').value) || 0;
var hoa = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hoaFees').value) || 0;
var vacancyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('vacancyRate').value) || 0;
var repairsRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('repairsCapEx').value) || 0;
var mgmtRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mgmtFee').value) || 0;
// Basic validation
if (monthlyRent < 0 || mortgage = 0) {
monthlyEl.className = "result-value cash-flow-positive";
annualEl.className = "result-value cash-flow-positive";
} else {
monthlyEl.className = "result-value cash-flow-negative";
annualEl.className = "result-value cash-flow-negative";
}
document.getElementById('calcResults').style.display = 'block';
}
function formatMoney(amount) {
return '$' + amount.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
}
Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
Income
$
$
Fixed Expenses
$
$
$
$
Variable Expenses (Estimates)
%
%
%
Please enter valid numeric values for all required fields.
Gross Potential Income:
$0.00
– Vacancy Loss:
$0.00
Effective Gross Income:
$0.00
Total Monthly Expenses:
$0.00
Monthly Cash Flow:
$0.00
Annual Cash Flow:
$0.00
Understanding Rental Property Cash Flow
Calculating cash flow is the most critical step in evaluating a rental property investment. Cash flow represents the net amount of money moving into or out of your business after all expenses are paid. A positive cash flow means the property generates income, while a negative cash flow means the property costs you money to hold.
How to Calculate Rental Cash Flow
The formula for rental property cash flow is relatively straightforward, but it requires accuracy regarding expenses to be effective:
- Gross Income: Total rent plus any ancillary income (parking, pet fees).
- Operating Expenses: These include taxes, insurance, HOA fees, repairs, property management, and vacancy allowances.
- Debt Service: The principal and interest payments on your mortgage.
- Cash Flow = Gross Income – (Operating Expenses + Debt Service)
Common Expenses Investors Overlook
When using this Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator, ensure you account for "hidden" costs that don't appear on a monthly bank statement but are real costs over time:
- Vacancy Rate: No property is occupied 100% of the time. A conservative estimate is 5-8% of gross rent.
- CapEx (Capital Expenditures): Big-ticket items like roofs, HVAC systems, and water heaters eventually need replacement. Setting aside 5-10% of monthly rent creates a safety net for these future costs.
- Property Management: Even if you self-manage, you should account for your time or the potential future cost of hiring a manager (typically 8-10% of collected rent).
What is a Good Cash Flow?
A "good" cash flow varies by market and investor strategy. However, many investors aim for $100-$200 per door in pure profit per month after all expenses and reserves. In high-appreciation markets, investors might accept lower monthly cash flow, while cash-flow-focused markets often demand higher monthly returns to offset lower appreciation potential.
Using the 1% Rule
A common rule of thumb for screening properties is the 1% rule, which states that the monthly rent should be at least 1% of the purchase price. While this calculator provides a detailed analysis, the 1% rule is a quick filter to find properties that are likely to have positive cash flow.