Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
.rp-calculator-wrapper {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
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padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
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@media (max-width: 600px) {
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Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
Monthly Principal & Interest:
$0.00
Total Monthly Expenses:
$0.00
Net Monthly Cash Flow:
$0.00
Annual Cash Flow:
$0.00
Cash on Cash Return:
0.00%
function calculateCashFlow() {
// Get input values
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpPurchasePrice').value);
var downPaymentPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpDownPayment').value);
var interestRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpInterestRate').value);
var loanTerm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpLoanTerm').value);
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpMonthlyRent').value);
var annualTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpPropertyTax').value);
var annualInsurance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpInsurance').value);
var monthlyMaintenance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpMaintenance').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(price) || isNaN(downPaymentPercent) || isNaN(interestRate) || isNaN(loanTerm) || isNaN(rent) || isNaN(annualTax) || isNaN(annualInsurance) || isNaN(monthlyMaintenance)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var downPaymentAmount = price * (downPaymentPercent / 100);
var loanAmount = price – downPaymentAmount;
// Mortgage Calculation (M = P [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n – 1])
var monthlyRate = (interestRate / 100) / 12;
var numberOfPayments = loanTerm * 12;
var monthlyMortgage = 0;
if (monthlyRate > 0) {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numberOfPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numberOfPayments) – 1);
} else {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount / numberOfPayments;
}
// Monthly Expenses
var monthlyTax = annualTax / 12;
var monthlyInsurance = annualInsurance / 12;
var totalMonthlyExpenses = monthlyMortgage + monthlyTax + monthlyInsurance + monthlyMaintenance;
// Cash Flow
var monthlyCashFlow = rent – totalMonthlyExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
// Cash on Cash Return
// Initial Investment = Down Payment + (Usually closing costs, but simplistic here)
// Let's assume closing costs are roughly 2% of price for a more realistic CoC, or just use down payment to keep it standard.
// Standard simplified CoC = Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested (Down Payment)
var cashOnCash = 0;
if (downPaymentAmount > 0) {
cashOnCash = (annualCashFlow / downPaymentAmount) * 100;
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resMortgage').innerText = "$" + monthlyMortgage.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resExpenses').innerText = "$" + totalMonthlyExpenses.toFixed(2);
var cashFlowEl = document.getElementById('resCashFlow');
cashFlowEl.innerText = "$" + monthlyCashFlow.toFixed(2);
cashFlowEl.className = "rp-result-value " + (monthlyCashFlow >= 0 ? "rp-positive" : "rp-negative");
var annualFlowEl = document.getElementById('resAnnualFlow');
annualFlowEl.innerText = "$" + annualCashFlow.toFixed(2);
annualFlowEl.className = "rp-result-value " + (annualCashFlow >= 0 ? "rp-positive" : "rp-negative");
var cocEl = document.getElementById('resCoC');
cocEl.innerText = cashOnCash.toFixed(2) + "%";
cocEl.className = "rp-result-value " + (cashOnCash >= 0 ? "rp-positive" : "rp-negative");
// Show results container
document.getElementById('rpResults').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding Rental Property Cash Flow
Investing in real estate is a powerful way to build wealth, but the success of any rental property hinges on its numbers. The Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator helps investors determine the viability of a potential investment by analyzing income versus expenses.
What is Cash Flow?
Cash flow is the net amount of cash moving into and out of a business or investment. In real estate, positive cash flow means that your property generates more income from rent than it costs to operate (mortgage, taxes, insurance, and maintenance). Negative cash flow implies you are losing money every month to keep the property running.
Calculating accurate cash flow is critical because it determines your ability to sustain the investment during vacancies or economic downturns. A property with strong positive cash flow provides passive income and financial security.
How to Use This Calculator
To get the most accurate results, you will need to input specific financial details about the property:
- Purchase Price: The total cost of the home or commercial property.
- Down Payment: The percentage of the purchase price you are paying upfront. The remaining amount constitutes your loan principal.
- Interest Rate & Loan Term: These determine your monthly mortgage payment (Principal & Interest).
- Projected Monthly Rent: The fair market rent you expect to collect from tenants.
- Operating Expenses: These include annual property taxes, insurance premiums, and monthly maintenance costs (including HOA fees if applicable).
Interpreting Your Results
This calculator outputs three critical metrics:
- Net Monthly Cash Flow: This is your pure profit (or loss) every month after all bills are paid. Most investors aim for at least $100-$300 per door in positive cash flow.
- Annual Cash Flow: This projects your profit over the course of a year, helping you compare the return against other investment vehicles like stocks or bonds.
- Cash on Cash Return (CoC): This is arguably the most important metric. It measures the annual return on the actual cash you invested (your down payment). For example, if you invest $20,000 cash and receive $2,000 in annual cash flow, your CoC is 10%. A CoC return of 8-12% is generally considered a good benchmark for rental properties.
Example Scenario
Imagine you purchase a property for $200,000 with a 20% down payment ($40,000). You secure a 30-year loan at a 6% interest rate.
If the property rents for $1,800/month, and your taxes, insurance, and maintenance total $500/month, your mortgage payment would be approximately $959. Your total expenses would be roughly $1,459.
This leaves you with a Net Monthly Cash Flow of $341, or $4,092 annually. Your Cash on Cash return would be approximately 10.2%, making this a solid investment opportunity.