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Property Data
Purchase Info
(3.0%)
Income
Expenses
Analysis Snapshot
Cash on Cash ROI 0.00%
Monthly Cash Flow $0
Cap Rate 0.00%
NOI (Annual) $0
Financial Breakdown Monthly
+ Total Income $0
- Mortgage (P&I) $0
- Operating Expenses $0
= Cash Flow $0
Expense Detail
Vacancy / Mgmt $0
CapEx / Maint $0
Tax / Ins / HOA $0

Adjust target to change KPI color thresholds.

Saved Portfolio Comparison
Address Price Cash Needed Cash Flow/mo Cap Rate CoC ROI Action
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About

Real estate investment is a game of margins, not just gross numbers. Novice investors often focus solely on the spread between rent and mortgage, ignoring the silent killers of profitability: vacancy, capital expenditures (CapEx), and management slippage. This oversight transforms a projected asset into a monthly liability.

This tool is designed for the rigorous underwriting of residential and small commercial rental properties. Unlike standard estimators, it incorporates granular expense itemization, industry-standard screening heuristics (such as the 50% Rule), and sensitivity analysis. It allows you to model risk by adjusting for asset class conditions - from pristine Class A turnkey properties to distresses Class D value-adds - ensuring your Cash-on-Cash (CoC) Return and Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) calculations reflect reality, not optimism.

real estate investing cash on cash return cap rate rental income investment analysis roi calculator

Formulas

The core of professional underwriting relies on accurate Net Operating Income (NOI) calculation. Note that Mortgage Interest and Principal are not operating expenses; they are debt service.

1. Net Operating Income (NOI):

NOI = Gross Rent (Vacancy + Management + Maintenance + Taxes + Insurance)

2. Cash Flow (Monthly):

CFmo = NOI12 Monthly Mortgage Payment

3. Cash-on-Cash Return:

CoC = Annual Cash FlowDown Payment + Closing Costs + Rehab Budget × 100

When the 50% Rule is activated, the Operating Expenses are simplified:

If 50% Rule &implies; OpEx 0.5 × Gross Rent

Reference Data

MetricDefinitionFormula / LogicTarget Range (Typical)
NOINet Operating IncomeIncome Operating ExpensesN/A (Higher is better)
Cap RateCapitalization RateNOIPurchase Price × 1004% 10% (Market Dependent)
CoC ROICash-on-Cash ReturnAnnual Cash FlowTotal Cash Invested × 1008% 12% (Strategic Target)
50% RuleScreening HeuristicEst. Expenses 0.50 × Gross RentUsed for rapid filtering only
DSCRDebt Service CoverageNOIAnnual Debt Service 1.25 (Lender Standard)
OpExOperating ExpensesTaxes + Ins + Maint + Mgmt + Vacancy35% 50% of Rent

Frequently Asked Questions

Cap Rate measures the property's efficiency as if you bought it with 100% cash. It excludes the mortgage. Cash-on-Cash Return measures the efficiency of *your* specific money invested (the down payment), factoring in the leverage of the loan. Investors usually care more about Cash-on-Cash, while sellers market the Cap Rate.
The 50% Rule is a quick-screening heuristic stating that operating expenses (excluding mortgage) will average 50% of gross rent over time. Use it to filter dozens of leads in minutes. Do NOT use it for the final purchase decision; always use actual tax, insurance, and quote data for the final underwriting.
Absolutely. Even if you don't spend money on a new roof this month, the roof is depreciating. Smart investors set aside 5-10% of rent monthly for Capital Expenditures (CapEx) and Maintenance so a $5,000 repair bill doesn't wipe out a year's worth of profit.
This varies by strategy. In high-appreciation markets (like coastal cities), investors might accept 3-5% CoC because they bank on value growth. In cash-flow markets (like the Midwest), investors often target 8-12% or higher to compensate for lower appreciation potential.
The tool uses the standard amortization formula based on your inputs for Principal, Interest Rate, and Term (years). It assumes a fixed-rate mortgage with monthly compounding.