/* Calculator Styles */
.rp-calculator-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;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.rp-calc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.rp-calc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.rp-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.rp-input-group label {
display: block;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-size: 14px;
color: #333;
}
.rp-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.rp-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #2c7be5;
outline: none;
}
.rp-section-title {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c7be5;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #e0e0e0;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
.rp-btn-container {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
text-align: center;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.rp-calculate-btn {
background-color: #2c7be5;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 12px 30px;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
.rp-calculate-btn:hover {
background-color: #1a5cba;
}
.rp-results-box {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
background-color: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 20px;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.rp-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
padding: 8px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #f0f0f0;
}
.rp-result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.rp-result-label {
color: #555;
}
.rp-result-value {
font-weight: bold;
color: #333;
}
.rp-main-metric {
font-size: 1.2em;
color: #2c7be5;
}
.rp-highlight-positive {
color: #28a745;
}
.rp-highlight-negative {
color: #dc3545;
}
/* SEO Content Styles */
.rp-content-wrapper {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.rp-content-wrapper h2 {
font-size: 24px;
color: #222;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.rp-content-wrapper h3 {
font-size: 20px;
color: #444;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.rp-content-wrapper p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.rp-content-wrapper ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.rp-content-wrapper li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.rp-faq-section {
background: #f8f9fa;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
function calculateRental() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpPrice').value) || 0;
var downPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpDown').value) || 0;
var interestRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpRate').value) || 0;
var termYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpTerm').value) || 0;
var monthlyRent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpRent').value) || 0;
var annualTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpTax').value) || 0;
var annualIns = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpIns').value) || 0;
var monthlyMaint = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rpMaint').value) || 0;
// 2. Calculate Mortgage Details
var downPayment = price * (downPct / 100);
var loanAmount = price – downPayment;
var monthlyRate = (interestRate / 100) / 12;
var totalPayments = termYears * 12;
var monthlyMortgage = 0;
if (interestRate === 0) {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount / totalPayments;
} else {
monthlyMortgage = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, totalPayments) – 1);
}
// 3. Calculate Expenses
var monthlyTax = annualTax / 12;
var monthlyIns = annualIns / 12;
var totalMonthlyExpenses = monthlyMortgage + monthlyTax + monthlyIns + monthlyMaint;
var annualOperatingExpenses = annualTax + annualIns + (monthlyMaint * 12);
// 4. Calculate Cash Flow
var monthlyCashFlow = monthlyRent – totalMonthlyExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = monthlyCashFlow * 12;
// 5. Advanced Metrics
var noi = (monthlyRent * 12) – annualOperatingExpenses;
var capRate = (price > 0) ? (noi / price) * 100 : 0;
// Estimating Closing Costs as 3% of Price for accurate Cash Invested calculation
var closingCosts = price * 0.03;
var totalCashInvested = downPayment + closingCosts;
var cashOnCash = (totalCashInvested > 0) ? (annualCashFlow / totalCashInvested) * 100 : 0;
// 6. Formatting Helper
function formatMoney(num) {
return '$' + num.toFixed(2).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+\.)/g, '$&,');
}
// 7. Display Results
document.getElementById('resMortgage').innerText = formatMoney(monthlyMortgage);
document.getElementById('resTotalExp').innerText = formatMoney(totalMonthlyExpenses);
document.getElementById('resNOI').innerText = formatMoney(noi);
document.getElementById('resCapRate').innerText = capRate.toFixed(2) + '%';
var cocElement = document.getElementById('resCOC');
cocElement.innerText = cashOnCash.toFixed(2) + '%';
cocElement.className = "rp-result-value " + (cashOnCash >= 0 ? "rp-highlight-positive" : "rp-highlight-negative");
var cfElement = document.getElementById('resCashFlow');
cfElement.innerText = formatMoney(monthlyCashFlow);
cfElement.className = "rp-result-value rp-main-metric " + (monthlyCashFlow >= 0 ? "rp-highlight-positive" : "rp-highlight-negative");
document.getElementById('rpResults').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding Your Rental Property Cash Flow
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, but not every property is a good deal. The Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator helps investors analyze the potential profitability of a residential or commercial property before signing on the dotted line.
What is Positive Cash Flow?
Positive cash flow occurs when a property's gross monthly rental income exceeds all associated expenses, including the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. Achieving positive cash flow ensures that the asset pays for itself while generating passive income for the investor.
Key Metrics Explained
- NOI (Net Operating Income): This represents the annual profitability of the property before accounting for mortgage financing. It is calculated by subtracting operating expenses from gross income.
- Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate): A fundamental metric used to estimate the return on investment for a property paid in cash. It is calculated as NOI / Purchase Price. A higher Cap Rate generally indicates a better return, though often comes with higher risk.
- Cash on Cash Return: This metric measures the cash income earned on the cash invested. Unlike Cap Rate, it takes debt service (your mortgage) into account. It provides the most accurate picture of your actual return on the dollars you put into the deal (Down Payment + Closing Costs).
How to Interpret the Results
If your Monthly Cash Flow is negative, the property is a liability, meaning you must pay out of pocket every month to keep it. Most investors look for a "Cash on Cash Return" of at least 8-12%, although this varies by market conditions.
Use this calculator to adjust variables like the Down Payment or Expected Rent to see how they impact your bottom line. Often, a higher down payment can turn a negative cash flow property into a positive one by reducing the monthly mortgage burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is a good Cash on Cash return for a rental property?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "While it varies by investor goals and market location, a Cash on Cash return of 8% to 12% is generally considered a solid investment. In highly appreciative markets, investors might accept lower returns (4-6%), while in lower-cost areas, they may seek 15% or higher."
}
}, {
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Does this calculator include closing costs?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes, for the Cash on Cash calculation, the logic estimates closing costs at 3% of the purchase price. This is added to your Down Payment to determine your total 'Cash Invested'."
}
}, {
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is the difference between Cap Rate and Cash on Cash?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Cap Rate measures the property's natural rate of return assuming no debt (all cash purchase). Cash on Cash Return measures the return on the actual money you invested, factoring in the leverage of your mortgage loan."
}
}]
}
Q: What is a good Cash on Cash return for a rental property?
A: While it varies by investor goals and market location, a Cash on Cash return of 8% to 12% is generally considered a solid investment. In highly appreciative markets, investors might accept lower returns (4-6%).
Q: Why is my Cash Flow negative?
A: Negative cash flow usually happens if the mortgage payment is too high relative to the rent, or if operating expenses (taxes, HOA) are eating up the profit. Try increasing the down payment or negotiating a lower purchase price.