ROI Real Estate: What Is Return on Investment in Real Estate? (2024)

ROI Real Estate: What Is Return on Investment in Real Estate? (1)

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If you’ve ever considered investing in real estate, you’ve probably heard of the term “return on investment,” or ROI, tossed around in conversation. ROI is a useful metric that helps you increase the chance of profitable property investment.

But what exactly is ROI, how do you calculate it, and why does it matter? This post explores everything you need to know about real estate ROI and provides tips on successfully maximizing it.

This post covers:

  • What is ROI in real estate?
  • How to calculate the ROI on rental properties
  • Why ROI is so important
  • 5 ways to maximize your real estate ROI

What is ROI in real estate?

Real estate return on investment (ROI) is a metric that real estate investors use to determine their return on an investment property. It measures the profit or gain made on an investment compared to the original cost of the investment, expressed as a percentage.

Essentially, ROI measures how efficient and profitable a real estate investment has been and could potentially be down the line.

Property investors use ROI to evaluate whether they should buy a property by comparing it to similar investments in the market. The value of calculating ROI is that it allows real estate professionals to predict — based on comparables — the profit margin expected on a property as a percentage of the cost.

ROI Real Estate: What Is Return on Investment in Real Estate? (2)

Unlike other investments, real estate ROI significantly varies based on:

  • Local market conditions
  • Type of property (i.e., single-family, small vs. large multifamily, short-term real estate, or commercial real estate)
  • Before-tax cash flow from rental income

So: What is a good ROI for real estate?

What one investor considers a “good” ROI might be considered “bad” for other investors. A “good” ROI is highly subjective because it largely depends on how risk-tolerant a particular investor is. But as a rule of thumb, most real estate investors aim for ROIs above 10%. For general insight, investors refer to major stock market indexes such as S&P 500.

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How to calculate the ROI on rental properties

ROI on a real estate rental property is calculated using the following formula:

ROI = (Gain on investment – Cost of investment) / Cost of investment

You can invest in real estate either by using all cash or financing the property, which will result in different ROIs. Let’s look at the ROI for a property in both scenarios: cash purchase and financed purchase.

In this example, we’ll imagine the initial purchase price was $100,000 and sold after five years for $135,000.

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Real estate ROI on a cash purchase

Purchase price$100,000
Sale price$135,000
Gains$35,000
Mortgage expense$0
Before-tax cash flow$6,000/year → $30,000 total in 5 years

Note: Other factors go into ROI calculations in real life, such as property tax, which varies from state to state. We’ll exclude those in this example to keep things simple.

In this example, the gain on investment = $165,000 ($30,000 cash flow + $35,000 increase in selling price + $100,000 return on initial investment).

So, the total ROI = ($165,000 – $100,000) / $100,000 = 65%

And if you want to know the cash-on-cash return of the rental property, do the following calculation:

Cash on cash ROI = Annual before-tax cash flow / Total cash invested

= $6,000 / $100,000

= 6%

Real estate ROI on a financed purchase

Purchase price$100,000
Down payment$25,000
Sale price$135,000
Gains$35,000
Mortgage expense$3,804
Before-tax cash flow

$6,000 – $3,804 = $2,196/year → $10,980 total in 5 years

Here, the gain on investment = $45,980 ($10,980 cash flow + $35,000 increase in selling price).

Total ROI = ($45,980 – $25,000) / $25,000 = 83.92%

As you can see, in this case, the rental property return on investment is higher when financing the investment than when investing with cash.

Learn about how much you should charge for rent:

Why ROI is so important

ROI in real estate is so important because this estimate will help you determine whether you should invest in a particular property and how it compares to other property investments of similar type and size.

The ROI also paints a picture of what your expenses will be — which, in turn, determines the property’s net operating income (NOI). Then you can assess whether potential income will offset those costs in a way that makes sense.

Now, you’re probably wondering: What is the average ROI on real estate?

Unfortunately, since there are so many variables to consider — including different capitalization rates for different markets — there’s no single, definitive average ROI in real estate. As a reminder, the ROI is just a predicted metric, and by no means is it guaranteed.

At the end of the day, ROI measures risks that are inherent in an investment. And there are numerous risks that just can’t be anticipated.

5 ways to maximize your real estate ROI

As a property owner or investor, you should look for tangible ways to maximize your property’s ROI. No matter what you invest in, your goal should always be to maximize your returns.

Here are five ways to maximize your real estate ROI:

  1. Automate property management with proptech
  2. Perform regular property maintenance and renovations
  3. Market your property to the right prospects
  4. Boost tenant retention
  5. Reduce operating costs

1. Automate property management with proptech

By automating tedious property management tasks with proptech, you’ll cut out a significant amount of manual administrative work.

With the right devices and integrations, all you need to do is enter a new resident’s information once, and the following will become automated workflows in the system:

  • Assigning access control credentials
  • New lease write-ups and delivery
  • Lease renewals
  • Rent & security deposit collections
  • Maintenance requests & assignments

No piece of technology can ever replace the value of property staff members. However, since staff’s time is highly valuable, they should spend more time on providing customer-facing services rather than repetitive tasks that can be easily automated by proptech.

Sometimes, in order to make money, you need to spend money first. For instance, investing in a smart intercom that integrates with your property management software is a great use of a capital expenditure that’ll raise your property’s value down the line.

2. Perform regular property maintenance and renovations

Everything deteriorates over time — it’s inevitable. As such, your investment property will endure some cosmetic and structural decay as the years go on.

However, you can perform a number of routine property maintenance tasks to keep your building in top-notch condition. It’s the seemingly small tasks, like repainting a wall or cleaning carpets regularly, that will make all the difference in the long run.

The best and easiest way to increase your property’s value is to maintain its existing infrastructure, as your property will naturally increase its value over time.

So, you should perform the following property maintenance tasks routinely:

  • Contain tenant garbage and recycling in one place & take them out regularly
  • Inspect HVAC systems and do repairs as needed
  • Perform annual safety checkups inside each unit
  • Monitor the building’s energy efficiency and usage

3. Market your property to the right prospects

Believe it or not, finding the right tenants to rent your property can significantly impact your building’s condition and, in turn, its value.

That’s why you want to ensure your marketing efforts target the right prospects so you’ll get qualified applicants. Before spending any money on marketing, you should pin down the qualities you want in a potential tenant. This will determine which marketing channels you should use and how to craft your messaging.

Attaining the right tenants for your property is a surefire way to achieve quicker lease-ups. The lease-up period — from pre-leasing to stabilization — is critical in determining the property’s financial success and value.

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4. Boost tenant retention

After you’ve attained the right tenants for your property, you’ll want to do your best to retain them.

You know that it costs more to obtain new residents than to retain current ones. And high turnover rates have significant financial implications.

For instance, turnover expenses — including lost rent, capital improvements, and marketing/realtor fees — can easily range from $1,000 to $3,000 per unit.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can boost tenant retention, such as:

  • Installing proptech
  • Organizing community events
  • Maintaining the property condition

Those tasks will increase resident satisfaction by improving their quality of living. In turn, they’ll likely renew their leases year after year, lowering your property’s turnover rates.

5. Reduce operating costs

Last but not least, reducing operating costs wherever possible will contribute to a higher ROI for your real estate investment.

As such, dedicate some time to closely examine your property’s overall expenditures, from interest on debt payments to property management costs. Then determine where you can make cuts.

For example, as mentioned above, installing property technology can improve your building’s functionality by reducing operations and maintenance costs. Also, hiring an efficient property management team can help reduce your annual costs, helping you realize greater profit over time.

Takeaways

  • ROI in real estate is a metric used by investors to predict the profitability of a property investment.
  • Calculate ROI by dividing the difference of selling price and investment price (aka the gains) by the investment price.
  • ROI is used to determine whether the risk of investing in a certain property is worth it.
  • It’s important to note that this metric only provides an estimate and doesn’t take into account variables that can’t be controlled or predicted.
  • You can maximize the ROI of an investment property by adding proptech, obtaining and retaining the right tenants, maintaining the property’s condition, and reducing operating costs.

ROI Real Estate: What Is Return on Investment in Real Estate? (2024)

FAQs

ROI Real Estate: What Is Return on Investment in Real Estate? ›

ROI is the profit earned from a real estate purchase after deducting the costs of the investment, which typically include the purchase price and any additional expenses associated with repairs or remodeling. ROI is not realized until the property is sold.

What is a good ROI for a real estate investment 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.

What is the 2% rule in real estate? ›

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.

What is an a reasonable rate of return on an investment property? ›

Now that you know how to calculate your cash on cash return, you are probably wondering “what is a good rate of return on rental property on a mortgage financed rental property?” Investors consider anything between 8% and 12% a good rate of return on rental property that is financed by a mortgage.

How to calculate return on investment for rental real estate? ›

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.

Is 5% return on real estate investment good? ›

Finding the right rental property

It all boils down to your return on investment (ROI). 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.

What is the 70% rule in real estate investing? ›

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. The ARV of a property is the amount a home could sell for after flippers renovate it.

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 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 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 a realistic rate of return on investments? ›

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market. However, keep in mind that this is an average. Some years will deliver lower returns -- perhaps even negative returns. Other years will generate significantly higher returns.

What is the average investor return rate for real estate? ›

In 2023, the average real estate return on rental property is 10.6% while the average commercial real estate ROI is 9.5%. Pew Research Center studies indicate that individual real estate investors account for almost 73% of single-unit rental properties in the United States.

What is a reasonable real rate of return? ›

Many consider a conservative rate of return in retirement 10% or less because of historical returns.

How to calculate return on investment? ›

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

What is a realistic return on a rental 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.

How do you calculate required rate of return on real estate? ›

RRR = Risk-free rate of return + Beta X (Market rate of return - Risk-free rate of return)
  1. Subtract the risk-free rate of return from the market rate of return.
  2. Multiply the above figure by the beta of the security.
  3. Add this result to the risk-free rate to determine the required rate of return.

What is the 10% rule in real estate investing? ›

No More Than 10 Percent Down Payment

Say, for example, that you purchased a property for $150,000. Following the rule, you put $15,000 (10 percent) forward as a down payment. Think of that 10 percent as all the skin you have in the game.

What is the 5% rule in real estate investing? ›

Applying the 5% rule would look like this: Multiply the value of the property you own/like to obtain by 5%. Divide by 12 (to get a monthly amount). If the resulting amount is costlier than you would pay to rent an equivalent property, renting your home and investing your money in rental properties may work better.

What is a good profit margin for 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.

What is the 7% rule in real estate? ›

The top 7% are hustlers. If they don't know something, they'll learn it. If the heat is on, they'll put in the extra hours to make it happen. You don't have to know everything, everyone, have all the money, or talent, but if you'll apply those two principles, you'll do very well in real estate.

What is the 4% rule in real estate investing? ›

For more than 25 years, the most common guideline has been a rule known as the '4% rule. ' This rule suggests that a withdrawal equal to 4% of the initial portfolio value, with annual increases for inflation, is sustainable over a 30-year retirement.

What is the 100 times rule in real estate investing? ›

Savvy real estate investors often pay no more than 100 times the monthly rent to purchase a property. In the case of the couple above, an investor following the 100 times monthly rent rule wouldn't pay more than $750,000 because the monthly market rent was $7,500.

What is the rule of 35 in the real estate? ›

By law, lenders can't underwrite the loan unless they can determine the borrower will be able to pay up the loan. The whole idea behind the 35-percent rule of thumb is this: a borrower can afford no more than 35% of its monthly take-home pay.

What is the 5 and 2 real estate rule? ›

The 2-out-of-five-year rule states that you must have both owned and lived in your home for a minimum of two out of the last five years before the date of sale. However, these two years don't have to be consecutive, and you don't have to live there on the date of the sale.

What is the 80-20 rule for realtors? ›

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.

What is the 36 rule in real estate? ›

A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service. This includes housing and other debt such as car loans and credit cards. Lenders often use this rule to assess whether to extend credit to borrowers.

What is the 20 percent rule in real estate? ›

According to the 20/10 rule, you should limit your non-housing debt to twenty percent of your annual net income and keep your monthly payments for that debt to less than ten percent of the monthly net amount.

What is the 40 rule in real estate? ›

SaaS KPI Metric: Rule of 40 Guideline by Brad Feld

In recent years, the 40% rule has gained widespread usage as a popularized measure of growth by SaaS investors. The Rule of 40 states that if a company's revenue growth rate were to be added to its profit margin, the total should exceed 40%.

What does 4 3 2 mean in real estate? ›

What Do These Abbreviations Mean in Real Estate?
AbbreviationDefinition
2/12 Bedrooms / 1 Bathrooms
4/34 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms
3/4 BATHToilet + Sink + Shower or Tub
4/3/24 Bedroom / 3 Bath / 2 Car Garage
220 more rows
Feb 18, 2013

What is the 25 rule in real estate? ›

To calculate how much house you can afford, use the 25% rule—never spend more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay (after tax) on monthly mortgage payments.

What is the 10 second rule in real estate? ›

As part of its REALTOR safety program, NAR trains its REALTORS to practice the “10-Second Rule.” It says one of the reasons REALTORS and agents end up in dangerous situations is because they are not paying attention. To counteract, they should take 10 seconds to observe and analyze their surroundings.

Is 7% return on investment realistic? ›

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. Because this is an average, some years your return may be higher; some years they may be lower.

Is 8% return on investment realistic? ›

In the case of the stock market, people can make, on average, from 5% to 7% on returns. According to many financial investors, 7% is an excellent return rate for most, while 5% is enough to be considered a 'good' return.

Is a 2% return on investment good? ›

Now, think about a real financial example: a 2 percent return. This may not sound impressive, but let's say you earned that 2 percent in a federally-insured, high-yield savings account. In that case, it's a very good return since you didn't have to accept any risk whatsoever.

Does Warren Buffett invest in real estate? ›

There's a Difference Between Buying Real Estate and Investing in Real Estate. Buffett isn't opposed to investing in real estate and has invested in several real estate investment trusts (REITs) over the years. However, he knows it doesn't make sense for him to get into the business of being a landlord.

Is real estate a better investment than the stock market? ›

While stocks are a well-known investment option, not everyone knows that buying real estate is also considered an investment. Under the right circ*mstances, real estate can be an alternative to stocks, offering lower risk, yielding better returns, and providing greater diversification.

What is the return on a 1 million investment? ›

The amount of interest that 1 million dollars can earn per year depends on the interest rate, which can vary depending on the type of investment. Assuming a conservative average interest rate of 1%, a 1 million dollar investment could potentially earn approximately $10,000 per year in interest income.

What is the 4 percent rule? ›

The “4% rule” is a common approach to resolving that. The rule works just like it sounds: Limit annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in any given year. This means that if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000 the first year.

What is a realistic return? ›

Real return is what is earned on an investment after accounting for taxes and inflation. Real returns are lower than nominal returns, which do not subtract taxes and inflation.

How do you calculate ROI manually? ›

ROI is calculated by subtracting the beginning value from the current value and then dividing the number by the beginning value.

What is the best way to calculate return? ›

A simple rate of return is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment from its current value, and then dividing it by the initial value. To report it as a %, the result is multiplied by 100.

What state has the highest ROI for real estate? ›

Investors probably need no explanation why and convincing that Florida tops the list of the best states for the long term rental investment strategy. Our nationwide rental market analysis shows that, on average, you can expect the highest rate of return in the Sunshine State.

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

How to Maximize the Rate of Return for Your Rental Property in...
  1. Preventive maintenance should be done. ...
  2. Refinancing your mortgage is an option. ...
  3. Rent should be priced reasonably. ...
  4. Fixed Leasing Tenures Reduce Potential Losses. ...
  5. Make that you have the appropriate insurance coverage.
Jan 12, 2022

What is the total return in real estate? ›

It sums up all the cash flows in an investment and averages them out. These cash flows include rental income, principal reduction, cash flow at the sale of the property, and any money paid to investors (i.e., dividends).

What is the average ROI on rental property? ›

The return on investment on a rental property depends on the factors we've discussed above. According to S&P 500, the average return on investment in the US property market is 8.6%. Residential properties earn an average return of 10.6%, while commercial properties have a slightly lower 9.5% return on investment.

What is the average profit on an investment 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.

What type of real estate investment has the highest ROI? ›

Commercial real estate is known to yield higher returns than residential real estate. If you can afford to manage a commercial space, it can prove lucrative over time, depending on your area. The value of commercial real estate is determined in part by how much revenue it generates.

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.

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.

Do most millionaires invest in real estate? ›

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have built their wealth through real estate. In fact, it's estimated that 90% of all millionaires invest in some form of real estate. There are several reasons for this, but in today's article, we'll share seven reasons why millionaires invest in real estate.

What is the best ROI percentage? ›

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. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation.

What are the 4 types of real estate investments? ›

Real estate investments can occur in four basic forms: private equity (direct ownership), publicly traded equity (indirect ownership claim), private debt (direct mortgage lending), and publicly traded debt (securitized mortgages). Many motivations exist for investing in real estate income property.

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