How To Calculate ROI on a Rental Property (2024)

One of the main reasons people invest is to increase their wealth. Although the motivations may differ between investors—some may want money for retirement, others may choose to sock away money for other life events like having a baby or for a wedding—making money is usually the basis of all investments. And it doesn't matter where you put your money, whether it goes into the stock market, the bond market, or real estate.

Real estate is tangible property that's made up of land, and generally includes any structures or resources found on that land. Investment properties are one example of a real estate investment. People usually purchase investment properties with the intent of making money through rental income. Some people buy investment properties with the intent of selling them after a short time.

Regardless of the intention, for investors who diversify their investment portfolio with real estate, it's important to measure return on investment (ROI) to determine a property's profitability. Here's a quick look at ROI, how to calculate it for your rental property, and why it's important that you know a property's ROI before you make a real estate purchase.

Key Takeaways

  • Return on investment (ROI) measures how much money, or profit, is made on an investment as a percentage of the cost of that investment.
  • To calculatethe percentage ROI for a cash purchase, take the net profitor net gain on the investment and divide it by the original cost.
  • If you have a mortgage, you'll need to factor in your downpayment and mortgage payment.
  • Other variables can affect your ROI including repair and maintenance costs, as well as your regular expenses.

What Is Return on Investment (ROI)?

Return on investment measures how much money, or profit, is made on an investment as a percentage of the cost of that investment.It shows how effectively and efficiently investment dollarsare being used to generate profits. Knowing ROI allows investors to assess whether putting money into a particular investment is a wise choice or not.

ROI can be used for any investment—stocks, bonds, a savings account, and a piece of real estate. Calculating a meaningful ROI for a residential property can be challenging because calculations can be easily manipulated—certain variables can be included or excluded in the calculation. It can become especially difficult when investors have the option of paying cash or taking out a mortgage on the property.

Here, we'll reviewtwoexamples for calculating ROI on residential rental property: a cash purchase and one that's financed with a mortgage.

The Formula for ROI

To calculate the profit or gainon any investment, first take thetotal return onthe investment and subtract the original cost of the investment.

To calculatethe percentage ROI, we take the net profit,or net gain, on the investment and divide it by the original cost:

ROI=GainonInvestmentCostofInvestmentCostofInvestmentROI\text{ } = \text{ } \frac{Gain\ on\ Investment\text{ }-\text{ }Cost\ of\ Investment}{Cost\ of\ Investment}ROI=CostofInvestmentGainonInvestmentCostofInvestment

For instance, if you buy ABC stock for $1,000 and sell it two years later for $1,600, the net profit is $600 ($1,600 – $1,000). ROI on the stock is 60% [$600 (net profit) ÷ $1,000 (cost) = 0.60].

Because ROI is a profitabilityratio,the result isoften representedin percentage terms.

Calculating ROI on Rental Properties

The above equation seems simple enough, but keep in mind that there are a number of variables that come into play withreal estate that can affect ROI numbers. These include repair and maintenance expenses, and methods of figuring leverage—the amount of money borrowed with interest to make the initial investment. Of course, financing termscan greatly affect the overall cost of the investment.

ROI for Cash Transactions

Calculating a property's ROI is fairly straightforward if you buy a property with cash. Here's an example of a rental property purchased with cash:

  • You paid$100,000 in cash for therental property.
  • Theclosing costswere $1,000 and remodeling costs totaled$9,000, bringing your total investment to $110,000 for the property.
  • You collected $1,000in rent every month.

A year later:

  • You earned$12,000in rental income for those 12 months.
  • Expenses including the water bill, property taxes, and insurance, totaled $2,400 for the year. or $200 per month.
  • Yourannual returnwas$9,600 ($12,000 – $2,400).

To calculate the property’s ROI:

  • Divide the annual return ($9,600) by the amount of the total investment, or $110,000.
  • ROI =$9,600÷ $110,000 = 0.087or 8.7%.
  • Your ROI was8.7%.

ROI for Financed Transactions

Calculating the ROI on financed transactions is more involved.

For example,assume you bought the same $100,000 rental property as above, but instead of paying cash, you tookout a mortgage.

  • The downpayment needed for the mortgage was 20% of the purchaseprice, or$20,000($100,000 sales price x 20%).
  • Closing costs were higher, which is typical for a mortgage, totaling $2,500 upfront.
  • You paid $9,000 for remodeling.
  • Your total out-of-pocket expenseswere$31,500 ($20,000 + $2,500 + $9,000).

There are also ongoing costs with a mortgage:

  • Let's assume you took out a 30-year loan with a fixed 4% interest rate. On the borrowed $80,000, the monthly principal and interest payment would be $381.93.
  • We’ll add the same $200per month to cover water,taxes, and insurance, making your total monthly payment $581.93.
  • Rental income of $1,000 per month totals $12,000 for the year.
  • Monthlycash flow is $418.07 ($1,000 rent - $581.93 mortgage payment).

One year later:

  • You earned $12,000 in total rental income for the year at $1,000 per month.
  • Your annual return was $5,016.84 ($418.07 x 12 months).

To calculate the property's ROI:

  • Divide the annual returnby 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%.

Home Equity

Some investors add the home'sequity into the equation. Equity is the market value of the property minus the totalloan amount outstanding. Keep in mind that home equity is not cash-in-hand. You would need to sell the property to access it.

To calculatethe amount of equity in your home, review your mortgage amortization schedule to find out how much of your mortgage payments went toward paying down the principal of the loan. This builds up the equity in your home.

The equity amount can be added to the annual return. In our example, the amortization schedule forthe loan showedthat a total of $1,408.84 of principal waspaid down during the first 12 months.

  • The new annual return, including the equity portion, equals $6,425.68 ($5,016.84 annual income + $1,408.84 equity).
  • ROI = $6,425.68÷$31,500 = 0.20.
  • Your ROI is20%.

The Importance of ROI for Real Estate

Knowing the ROI for any investment allows you to be a more informed investor. Before you buy, estimate your costs and expenses, as well as your rental income. This gives you a chance to compare it to other, similar properties.

Once you've narrowed it down, you can then determine how much you'll make. If at any point you realize that your costs and expenses will exceed your ROI, you may need to decide whether you want to ride it out and hope you'll make a profit again—or sell so you don't lose out.

Other Considerations

Of course, there may beadditional expenses involved in owninga rental property, such as repairs ormaintenance costs, which would needto be included in the calculations, ultimatelyaffecting theROI.

Also, we assumed that the property was rented out for all 12 months. In many cases, vacancies occur, particularly in between tenants, and you must account for the lack of income for those months in your calculations.

Real estate investors can diversify their portfolios while maintaining their ROI through pooled investments such as real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The Bottom Line

The ROI for a rental property is different than with other investments: It can vary greatly, depending on whether the property is financed via a mortgage or paid for in cash. As a general rule of thumb, the less cash paid upfront as a downpayment onthe property,the larger the mortgage loan balance will be, but the greater your ROI.

Conversely, the more cash paidupfrontand the less you borrow, the loweryour ROI,since your initial cost would behigher. In other words, financing allows you to boost your ROI in the short term, as your initial costs are lower.

It’s important to use aconsistentapproach when measuring the ROI for multiple properties.For example, if you include the home'sequity in evaluating one property, you should include the equity ofthe other propertieswhen calculating the ROI for your real estate portfolio. This can provide the most accurate view of your investment portfolio.

How To Calculate ROI on a Rental Property (2024)

FAQs

How To Calculate ROI on a 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.

What is a simple way to calculate ROI on a rental property? ›

The simplest way to calculate ROI on a rental property is to subtract annual operating costs from annual rental income and divide the total by the mortgage value.

What is an acceptable ROI for rental property? ›

Generally, a good ROI for rental property is considered to be around 8 to 12% or higher. However, many investors aim for even higher returns. It's important to remember that ROI isn't the only factor to consider while evaluating the profitability of a rental property investment.

How do you calculate ROI accurately? ›

The most common is net income divided by the total cost of the investment, or ROI = Net income / Cost of investment x 100.

Is 7% ROI on rental property good? ›

A good ROI for a rental property is typically more than 10%, but 5%–10% can also be acceptable. But the ROI may be lower in the first year, due to the upfront costs of buying a home. A fixer-upper may offer more upfront savings as their average list price is 25% lower than turnkey homes.

What are 2 ways to calculate ROI? ›

ROI is calculated by subtracting the initial cost of the investment from its final value, then dividing this new number by the cost of the investment, and finally, multiplying it by 100. ROI has a wide range of uses.

How to calculate ROI in Excel? ›

The ROI formula divides the amount of gain or loss by the content investment. To show this in Excel, type =C2/A2 in cell D2.

What is the 2% rule for rental income? ›

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.

How do you calculate if a rental property is worth it? ›

To calculate the property's ROI:
  1. 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.
  2. ROI = $5,016.84 ÷ $31,500 = 0.159.
  3. Your ROI is 15.9%.

How do I maximize my return on a rental property? ›

13 Tips for Maximizing Rental Income as a Landlord
  1. Resident-Proof Your Property.
  2. Purchase The Right Insurance.
  3. Crunch the Numbers.
  4. Create An LLC.
  5. Make Use Of Tax Breaks.
  6. Make Use Of A Written Lease Agreement.
  7. Choose Your Property Management Company Wisely.
  8. Purchase A Home Warranty.
Sep 8, 2022

Why is it so hard to calculate ROI? ›

Measuring marketing return on investment (ROI) is difficult for 3 core reasons: Some marketing campaigns don't directly tie to revenue. No standardized method for determining what's included as a marketing cost. Some payback cycles are too long to count.

What is a realistic ROI? ›

According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation.

Is ROI easy to measure? ›

Although ROI is a quick and easy way to estimate the success of an investment, it has some serious limitations. ROI fails to reflect the time value of money, for instance, and it can be difficult to meaningfully compare ROIs because some investments will take longer to generate a profit than others.

What is a good monthly profit from a rental property? ›

The amount will depend on your specific situation, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 10% profit after all expenses and taxes. While 10% is a good target, you may be able to make more depending on the property and the rental market.

How do I know if my rental property will cash flow? ›

Our property passes the test of the 1% Rule. The 50% Rule states that a rental property's net cash flow should be at least 50% of the gross rent less the mortgage payment (P&I): Net cash flow = (Gross rent x 50%) – Mortgage P&I. ($12,000 gross annual rent x 50%) - $4,296 mortgage P&I = $1,704 per year.

What is a good noi in real estate? ›

A cap rate between 8% and 12% is considered good for a rental property in most areas (ones in expensive cities may go lower).

What formula typically uses ROI? ›

To determine ROI, use the simple formula ROI = (gains – costs) / costs.

What are ROI strategies? ›

ROI Strategies is a management consulting firm specializing in providing government agencies with the rigorous economic analysis needed to make acquisition and program investment decisions that maximize returns on their capital investments.

How do I create a ROI spreadsheet? ›

Calculating ROI in Excel is pretty straightforward. All you've got to do is open a spreadsheet and then label the cells so you can keep track of the cost and return data you're going to enter. From there, just enter your data and select a blank column to enter in one of the Excel ROI formulas.

What is the formula for ROI in Google Sheets? ›

To calculate ROI, take the revenue that resulted from your ads and listings, subtract your overall costs, then divide by your overall costs: ROI = (Revenue - Cost of goods sold) / Cost of goods sold.

What is the formula for return on cost? ›

Return on cost is calculated as purchase price plus renovation expense, divided by potential Net Operating Income. Both metrics have their pros and cons and should be viewed as complementary to each other, particularly in a value-add investment.

What is the best rental to income ratio? ›

As a general rule of thumb, landlords should aim for a rent-to-income ratio of no more than 30%. Meaning the tenant should earn at least three times the rent amount.

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

4-3-2-1 rule

The front quarter of the standard site receives 40% of the total value. The second quarter receives 30% of the total value. The third quarter receives 20% of the total value; and the rear quarter receives just 10% of the total value.

What is the 50% rule in real estate investing? ›

The 50% rule in real estate says that investors should expect a property's operating expenses to be roughly 50% of its gross income. This is useful for estimating potential cash flow from a rental property, but it's not always foolproof.

How do landlords calculate profit? ›

To calculate your net rental yield, multiply the monthly rental income by 12. Take away the annual costs of owning a property (mortgage payments, insurance, general maintenance), and then divide that by the property's purchase price or current market value. Finally, multiply that figure by 100 to get the percentage.

What is the most common way to value rental property? ›

The Sales Comparison Approach

It is the method most widely used by appraisers and real estate agents when they evaluate properties. This approach is simply a comparison of similar homes that have sold or rented locally over a given time period.

Can you live off of rental income? ›

Effectively managing and maximizing cash flow for your investment properties will allow you to live off the rental property income. Several factors can impact your ability to maintain a positive cash flow. You'll need to show your rental property in the best light possible to attract high-quality residents.

How do you create cash flow in real estate? ›

Additional Revenue. Perhaps one of the most popular ways to increase cash flow is to develop new revenue streams beyond just rent. For example a multifamily property could add application fees, install vending machines, convert unused space into rentable storage lockers, or charge additional rent for tenants with pets.

How do you buy cash flows? ›

How to Purchase Cash Flow Notes
  1. Decide which type of cash flow notes to buy. ...
  2. Contact the broker. ...
  3. Discuss the terms and conditions for the cash flow note. ...
  4. Create a promissory note to transfer ownership. ...
  5. Create an escrow. ...
  6. Deposit purchase money. ...
  7. Collect the monthly payments.

What is the most common mistake people make in calculating ROI? ›

Common mistakes in ROI calculation
  • Not taking into account the training time. ...
  • Only short-term or narrow ROI calculations. ...
  • Ignoring test maintenance.
Feb 23, 2023

What gives you the highest ROI? ›

  1. High-yield savings accounts. Online savings accounts and cash management accounts provide higher rates of return than you'll get in a traditional bank savings or checking account. ...
  2. Certificates of deposit. ...
  3. Money market funds. ...
  4. Government bonds. ...
  5. Corporate bonds. ...
  6. Mutual funds. ...
  7. Index funds. ...
  8. Exchange-traded funds.
May 4, 2023

What is one major weakness of ROI? ›

One of the disadvantages to ROI is that it does not take into account the holding period of an investment. This can be problematic when comparing investment alternatives. ROI also does not adjust for risk and the ROI figures can be exaggerated if all the expected costs are not included in the calculation.

Is 100% ROI doubling your money? ›

If your ROI is 100%, you've doubled your initial investment. Return on Investment can help you make decisions between competing alternatives. If you deposit money in a savings account, the return on your investment will be equal to the interest rate that the bank gives you to hold your money.

Is 30% ROI good? ›

An ROI of 30% can be good, but it can depend on how long your ROI has been at 30% in previous years.

What is a good monthly ROI? ›

According to many financial investors, 7% is an excellent return rate for most, while 5% is enough to be considered a 'good' return. Still, an investor may make more or less than the average percentage since everything depends on the investment's circ*mstances.

What tool is used to measure ROI? ›

Google Analytics

With relevant quantitative data, Google Analytics is one of the most powerful tools to measure the ROI of your social media campaigns.

How much should a rental property cash flow? ›

A good rule of thumb is the 1 percent rule. This is a formula that rental property investors use to size up a property's cash flow quickly. The rule stipulates that the property's total rental income should be 1 percent of the purchase price at a minimum.

What happens if my expenses are more than my rental income? ›

When your expenses from a rental property exceed your rental income, your property produces a net operating loss. This situation often occurs when you have a new mortgage, as mortgage interest is a deductible expense.

What percentage of rental income goes to expenses? ›

Most landlords try to keep their gross operating income — the total operating expense in relation to total revenue or income — around 35% to 45% for each rental.

Do you pay taxes on rental cashflow? ›

Any rental income you received as a property owner is taxable and should be reported. As a general rule, rental income can include rent payments, security deposits, leasing fees, and any other cash flow generated from a given property.

How do you calculate cash on cash ROI on a rental property? ›

The cash on cash return formula is simple: Annual Net Cash Flow / Invested Equity = Cash on Cash Return.

How do you calculate cash on cash for rental property? ›

A relatively simple calculation, an investor can find out their cash-on-cash return by taking the pre-tax cash flow (determined using the income and expense calculations for a property) and dividing that figure by the total amount of cash invested. The resulting figure is the cash-on-cash return.

Are Noi and ROI the same? ›

NOI is used to determine the capitalization rate of a property, also known as the return on investment (ROI) in real estate. It divides NOI by the purchase price. If a property is deemed profitable, the lenders also use this figure to determine the size of the loan they're willing to make.

What is the difference between ROI and NOI? ›

At a simplistic level, Return on Investment (ROI) refers to the time an investment takes to generate positive returns. Net Operating Income (NOI), on the other hand, refers to the amount of money that an asset generates, less expenses, of course.

How do you calculate net income from rental property? ›

Net operating income (NOI)

To calculate annual NOI, take the total cash flow coming in each month and subtract the total expenses paid throughout the year. For instance, if you made $900 in rental income each month and paid $300 each month in expenses, your annual net operating income would equal $7,200.

What is the rule of thumb for rental ROI? ›

What Is The 1% Rule In Real Estate? The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of the investment property against the gross income it will generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must be equal to or no less than 1% of the purchase price.

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.

How can I increase my ROI on my rental property? ›

Factors that can increase or decrease the ROI for rental property include:
  1. Property purchase price and initial repair costs (if any)
  2. Rental income and occupancy rate.
  3. Operating expenses such as property management fees, maintenance, and HOA dues.
  4. Annual expenses, including insurance premiums and property taxes.
Feb 6, 2023

How do you calculate ROI on rental equipment? ›

To get a rough idea of your machinery ROI, take the net profit you expect it to earn and divide it by the equipment's total cost. If, after maintenance and ownership costs, a $100,000 piece of equipment brings $25,000 in revenue in the first year, its ROI is 25%.

What is the rule of 72 in rental property? ›

The Rule of 72 offers a formula that allows you to estimate the years it will take for your investment to double in value. To use the rule, you divide 72 by the annual interest rate or rate of return on your investment. This calculation results in the number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What is the 10 percent rule for rental property? ›

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 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 80% rule in real estate? ›

The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.

What is Rule 70 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 adds the most value to a rental? ›

6 Tips To Add Value To Your Rental Property
  • Replace Flooring. The first thing you should do is replace the flooring regularly. ...
  • Paint. Studies indicate that fresh exterior paint can increase the property value by an average of 5%. ...
  • Hardware. ...
  • Social spaces. ...
  • Garage doors. ...
  • Landscape. ...
  • How to Add Value To Your Rental Property.

What is a good cash on cash return? ›

What Is A Good Cash On Cash Return? There is no specific rule of thumb for those wondering what constitutes a good return rate. There seems to be a consensus amongst investors that a projected cash on cash return between 8 to 12 percent indicates a worthwhile investment.

What rent should I charge? ›

You take the monthly rental income amount or expected rental income and multiply it by 12. Divide it by the property's purchase price or current market value and multiply this figure by 100 to get the percentage. A good rental yield is usually considered to be 7% or more.

How do you calculate ROI on sheets? ›

To calculate ROI, take the revenue that resulted from your ads and listings, subtract your overall costs, then divide by your overall costs: ROI = (Revenue - Cost of goods sold) / Cost of goods sold.

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