Breaking Down The 1% Rule In Real Estate (2024)

When it comes to real estate investing, the 1% rule isn’t the only method used for determining the best opportunities to buy a rental house. Other popular methods include the gross rent multiplier, the 70% rule and the 2% rule.

Gross Rent Multiplier

The gross rent multiplier (GRM) gauges the amount of time to pay off the investment. It’s the purchase price divided by the gross annual rent. The total you get is the number of years it will take to pay off the investment using just your rental income. The lower the GRM, the more lucrative the property may be.

For example, you purchase an investment property for $200,000. You charge $2,500 per month for rent. Your annual gross rental income is $30,000 (2,500 x 12). $200,000/$30,000 = 6.67.

The GRM of this property is 6.67, meaning it will take about 6.67 years to pay off the property using your gross rental income. Of course, you’ll need to consider other expenses when determining a property’s profit potential. These include repair costs, operating costs, maintenance and vacancy rate.

You can use the GRM to compare different investment properties, too. If one property has a GRM of 6.67, while another has a GRM of 8.33, the one with the lower GRM (6.67) may be the better option since you’ll pay off the investment faster. When comparing properties, make sure they are in similar markets and have similar operating, maintenance and other costs.

70% Rule

The 70% rule is for those looking to flip a house, and it states that the investor should pay no more than 70% of the home’s after repair value (ARV), minus any repair costs.

To calculate the 70% rule, simply take the estimated ARV of the home and multiply it by 0.7 (or, 70%). Once you have the total, subtract any estimated repair costs. This will be the amount you should pay for the property.

Here’s an example: You are interested in a property that you estimate will have an ARV of $150,000. You estimate that you’ll need to spend about $30,000 on repairs in order to flip the home. $150,000 X 0.7 = $105,000 so $105,000 is the maximum amount you should spend on purchasing the home and making the repairs. $105,000 – $30,000 (repair cost) = $75,000.

Per the 70% rule, you should pay no more than $75,000 for the property.

2% Rule

The 2% rule is the same as the 1% rule – it just uses a different number. The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price.

Here’s an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000. Using the 2% rule, you should find a mortgage that has a monthly payment of $3,000 or less and charge your tenants a minimum monthly rent of $3,000.

As you can see, the 2% rule is more extreme than the 1% (basically doubling the monthly rent), but it can work in certain markets and provide a financial safety net if you have difficulty filling vacancies or need a major, costly repair on the property.

No matter which rule you decide to go with, it’s important to run the numbers on a potential property to make sure you’re making an affordable investment.

Breaking Down The 1% Rule In Real Estate (2024)

FAQs

Is the 1% rule in real estate realistic? ›

Is the 1% Rule Realistic in the Current Market? The 1% rule may not be realistic for investors buying rental property in the current market. According to a recent Forbes article, median housing prices have risen to $450,000 in many areas, nearly 17% higher than the highest recorded average.

What is the 4-3-2-1 rule in real estate? ›

4-3-2-1 Rule - Rule that states that the first 25% of depth represents 40% of the value; the second 25%, 30% of the values; the third 25%, 20% of the value; and the final 25%, 10% of the value.

What is the 2% rule in real estate? ›

This is a general rule of thumb that determines a base level of rental income a rental property should generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a gross yield from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What is the golden formula in real estate? ›

In case you haven't heard of the so-called Golden Rule in house flipping, the 70% Rule states that your offer on a property should be no greater than 70% of the After Repair Value (ARV) minus the estimated repairs.

What is the 1% rule 2022? ›

The 1% rule states that the monthly rent collected on an investment property should be equal to or greater than one percent of the purchase price.

What is the 80% rule in real estate? ›

The rule, applicable in many financial, commercial, and social contexts, states that 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. For example, many researchers have found that: 80% of real estate deals are closed by 20% of the real estate teams. 80% of the world's wealth was controlled by 20% of the population.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

Like many rules of real estate investing, the 50 percent rule isn't always accurate, but it can be a helpful way to estimate expenses for rental property. To use it, an investor takes the property's gross rent and multiplies it by 50 percent, providing the estimated monthly operating expenses. That sounds easy, right?

What is the 90 day flip rule in real estate? ›

The FHA 90-Day Flip Rule

If the timeframe from the new home sale contract and the ownership of the property is less than 90 days, FHA lenders will likely decline the mortgage approval. Therefore, as an FHA home buyer, you must wait at least 91 days before you can sign on the dotted line for your property.

What is a 70/30 split in real estate? ›

A common agent/broker commission split is 70/30. In this case, 70% of the commission on a sale goes to the brokerage and 30% to the agent.

How do you calculate the 1% rule? ›

How the One Percent Rule Works. This simple calculation multiplies the purchase price of the property plus any necessary repairs by 1%. The result is a base level of monthly rent. It's also compared to the potential monthly mortgage payment to give the owner a better understanding of the property's monthly cash flow.

What is the 4% rule in real estate? ›

The 4% rule in retirement planning is used to determine how much you should withdraw from your retirement account each year. Basically, the idea is to give yourself a healthy stream of income, while maintaining an active account balance during retirement.

What is a good ROI in real estate? ›

The average annual ROI for residential real estate is currently hovering around 10 percent, so anything above that can be considered better than average.

What is the Flippers 70 rule? ›

The 70% rule helps home flippers determine the maximum price they should pay for an investment property. Basically, they should spend no more than 70% of the home's after-repair value minus the costs of renovating the property.

What is the Brrrr method? ›

The BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Method is a real estate investment approach that involves flipping a distressed property, renting it out and then getting a cash-out refinance on it to fund further rental property investments.

What is a good ROI on a flip? ›

The net ROI is more likely to be around 10% after those expenses. With a flipped home, if you spend $200,000 total, and make a $40,000 net profit when you resell, your ROI will be $40,000 ÷ $200,000, or 20%. If you intend to flip a home, you need to calculate your potential ROI before you make an offer on the property.

What is the 1 percent rule in Brrrr? ›

R is for Rent

The 1% rule is an easy way to calculate how much rent you should charge. According to the 1% rule, the charge for rent each month should be equal to (or greater than) 1% of what you paid for the house, including any renovations, repairs, and improvements.

What is the first rule of real estate? ›

The first limitation is commonly referred to as the Security First Rule. This rule prohibits a lender from collecting against any of the debtor's unpledged assets unless the lender seeks, as part of its action, an order for judicial foreclosure of its mortgage or deed of trust.

Does the rule of 72 apply to real estate? ›

The Rule of 72 can apply to any scenario where you want to explore the potential of an investment with annual compound interest. While you aren't given a conventional interest rate when you invest in commercial real estate, you can still use the inverted formula to calculate your necessary return on investment.

What is the 36 rule in real estate? ›

One way to decide how much of your income should go toward your mortgage is to use the 28/36 rule. According to this rule, your mortgage payment shouldn't be more than 28% of your monthly pre-tax income and 36% of your total debt. This is also known as the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

What is the 5% rule in property? ›

Multiply the value of the home by 5%, then divide that number by 12 to get your breakeven point. If the monthly rent on a comparable home is below the breakeven point, it makes financial sense to rent. If the monthly rent is higher than the breakeven point, it makes financial sense to buy.

Is the 2% rule in real estate realistic? ›

Are 2% Rule Properties Unicorns or Real? Most investors have a hard enough time finding properties that meet the 1% rule, let alone something that exceeds or even doubles that criteria. The good news for investors is that 2% properties do exist!

What is the 2% rule rental? ›

According to the rule, a rental income of less than 2 per cent of the purchase price would suggest that the asset isn't worth buying. To determine whether a property is a good investment using the 2 per cent rule, simply multiply its purchase price by 0.02.

What is the 10 rule in real estate? ›

Buy 10% Under the Market Price

This rule is basically to avoid paying the sticker price. Instead, look to buy at least 10% under the listed price. In real estate, there's a saying that most of the return is made at the time of purchase. Meaning that most of the money is made on the purchase rather than rental income.

What is the 30% rule in real estate? ›

You may have heard it—the old rule that says, “Homeowners shouldn't spend more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing.” The idea is to ensure they still have 70% of their income to spend on other expenses. The intent is good.

How do house flippers avoid capital gains? ›

Do a 1031 Exchange. The IRS lets you swap or exchange one investment property for another without paying capital gains on the one you sell. Known as a 1031 exchange, it allows you to keep buying ever-larger rental properties without paying any capital gains taxes along the way.

How do I avoid paying taxes on flips? ›

Flip Your Own Home

This allows you to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain on your taxes (or up to $500,000 if you're married and filing jointly). To qualify for this exclusion, the house you're flipping has to have been your primary residence for at least two of the five years leading up to the sale.

Do I pay taxes on flipping a house? ›

Typically, house flipping is not considered to be passive investing by the IRS, and as active income, the investor will need to pay normal income taxes on their net profits within the financial year. These taxes commonly include federal income tax, state income tax, and taxes for self-employment.

What is Keller Williams commission split? ›

Keller Williams has a competitive split structure for real estate agents. They offer a 70-30 split. Meaning, 70 percent of the commission will go to the real estate agent and 30 percent will go to the brokerage. In addition, a real estate agent will pay a six percent franchise fee for each transaction up to $3,000.

What does a 80/20 split mean in real estate? ›

80/20 commission split: This common commission split means that 80% of a commission goes to the individual agent, while 20% goes to the brokerage. In addition, many agents on this plan are required to pay significant monthly or per transaction fees in exchange for facilities and limited administrative support.

Does Keller Williams give you leads? ›

We provide you with many different lead generation methods including Internet lead conversions, contacting Expired/Withdrawn listings, For Sale By Owners (FSBO's), Open Houses, Door Knocking, etc. Using these tools will ensure you are making enough contacts to be as successful as you want to be.

Does the 1 rule include utilities? ›

Does the 1 rule include utilities? And these expenses don't include the monthly mortgage payments. Instead, it refers to things like property taxes, maintenance, and utilities.

What is the formula for buying rental property? ›

To calculate the property's ROI: Divide the annual return by your original out-of-pocket expenses (the downpayment of $20,000, closing costs of $2,500, and remodeling for $9,000) to determine ROI. ROI = $5,016.84 ÷ $31,500 = 0.159. Your ROI is 15.9%.

What is a good cap rate for rental property? ›

What is a good cap rate for a rental property? A good cap rate hovers somewhere between 8% and 12%, but the real answer is: It depends. While a 10% cap rate might be solid for some rentals, your percentage is not the only factor in determining whether taking on an Airbnb investment is right for you.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

One of the most common percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. Learn more about the 50/30/20 budget rule and if it's right for you.

Is 4 million enough to retire at 70? ›

The simple answer is yes. You can retire with $4 million. However, it is essential to note that your lifestyle will significantly affect how long your money will last. For example, four million dollars may not be enough if you like to travel and live a luxurious lifestyle.

What is the 3% rule? ›

That's partly why today's financial advisors are telling people to plan for a 3% withdrawal rate. This advice follows the idea of "Hope for the best, plan for the worst." Plan your necessary expenses at 3%. If stocks tumble, and you're forced to withdraw 4% to cover your bills, you'll still be safe.

What is a better investment than real estate? ›

You can easily add stocks to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, to grow your money tax-free. Over the long term, stocks have outperformed other investment options, such as bonds and real estate.

Is 20% ROI good in real estate? ›

Typically, a good return on your investment is 15%+. Using the cap rate calculation, a good return rate is around 10%. Using the cash on cash rate calculation, a good return rate is 8-12%. Some investors won't even consider a property unless the calculation predicts at least a 20% return rate.

Is it smart to pay off a rental property? ›

Potential advantages to paying off a rental property loan include increased cash flow, less worry, and eliminating debt. Drawbacks to consider include potentially having fewer liquid assets, less diversification, and lower potential returns.

What is the 70 rule in BRRRR? ›

The BRRRR strategy is no different. Flippers like to use the “70% rule” for determining a strike price. This rule states that the most an investor should pay for a property is 70% of the After Repair Value minus the estimated rehab cost.

What is the average net profit for flipping a house? ›

California house flippers can make a tidy profit, regardless of which city they invest within. Attom Data Solutions says that the average California house flippers make $73,766 in profit per house in 2020 and $105,000 in 2021. LendingHome estimates that the average house flippers make $101,900 in profit per home.

How many houses can you flip in a year? ›

It depends on your finances, time management, and the availability of homes in your area. The average real estate investor flips 2 to 7 homes a year. You may flip more or less – depending on your capabilities, experience and time availability.

Is the brrr strategy risky? ›

The BRRRR strategy is a great strategy but it's not for everybody. It is a risky strategy and this should be taken into consideration when you're making these kinds of investments.

How do I start my first BRRRR? ›

What is the BRRR method?
  1. Buy: Find a great deal on a rental property and buy it.
  2. Rehab: Fix up the property.
  3. Rent: Find tenants and rent the property.
  4. Refinance: Get a loan that covers the purchase price plus the repairs.
  5. Repeat: Use that money to buy another property and do it again.
Feb 7, 2023

How do I finance my first BRRRR? ›

BRRRR investment typically requires two different types of loans. When you buy the property, you take out an interest-only fix and flip loan to cover the cost of the purchase and renovations. Then you will refinance to a long-term rental loan with a lower interest rate and full amortization.

Is 1% a good ROI? ›

What Is a Good ROI? According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks.

Is flipping houses still profitable 2022? ›

The median $310,000 resale price of homes flipped nationwide in the third quarter of 2022 generated a gross flipping profit of $62,000 above the median investor purchase price of $248,000. That resulted in a typical 25 percent profit margin.

Is it a good time to flip houses 2023? ›

For fix-and-flip investors, 2023 promises to be a very challenging year. Ideal market conditions for flippers include strong demand, limited supply and rapidly rising prices — conditions that existed in 2020 and 2021 and led to record numbers of flipped homes, record gross profits and rich profit margins.

Is the 1% rule good? ›

The 1% rule is a good prescreening tool. It works well as a guide for determining a good investment from a bad one and narrowing down your choices of properties. As you review listings, apply the 1% rule to the listing price and then see if what you get is close to the median rent for the area.

How accurate is the 50% rule real estate? ›

Like many rules of real estate investing, the 50 percent rule isn't always accurate, but it can be a helpful way to estimate expenses for rental property. To use it, an investor takes the property's gross rent and multiplies it by 50 percent, providing the estimated monthly operating expenses.

What is the most important rule of real estate? ›

Keep cash flowing.

The single most important thing for successful real estate investing is this: Keep cash flowing. It doesn't matter how much you're worth if all that capital is locked up. The most successful real estate investor can fail if they're unable to access cash when necessary.

What is a good ROI for an investment property? ›

The 2% rule in real estate is another simple way to calculate ROI for rental properties. According to this rule, if the monthly rent for a rental property is at least 2% of its purchase price, then odds are it should generate positive cash flow.

What is a good profit margin for rental property? ›

Vacation rental owners should look to make no less than a 10% return on their investment. That means your income minus expenses (net operating costs including any mortgage payment) should be no less than 10% of your initial investment per year.

What is the 70 rule in real estate? ›

The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home.

What is the 5% rule in real estate? ›

Multiply the value of your home by 5%. Divide by 12. The result is the breakeven point, where renting is financially equivalent to buying.

What are the three most important words in real estate? ›

There is an old adage, that the three most important words in real estate are 'Location, Location, Location'.

What are the 3 most important factors in real estate? ›

The three most important factors when buying a home are location, location, and location. Too often I hear people talking about making decisions based on the home itself, instead of the location, and that is a mistake.

What is the 7% rule in real estate? ›

It has often been said that 20% of the players do 80% of the business: the 80/20 rule as it is sometimes referred to. However, this contrast has reportedly become even starker in the real estate world. According to the data, just 7% of real estate agents do 93% of the business.

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