Tips on Getting a Return on Rental Property Investments (2024)

More and more people are getting started in real estate investing and are looking to rental properties as a way to diversify their investments and securing cash flow for the future.

Key Takeaways

  • The cap rate can help you compare real estate investment opportunities.
  • The cap rate is calculated by dividing the net operating profit by the purchase price.
  • As a general rule of thumb, investors should ensure that their rental will generate at least 1% of the purchase price in gross monthly rent.

The Benefits of Rental Properties

Rental properties can round out an investment portfolio and create an ongoing income stream. Several major factors have made this a popular investment option:

  • The meager returns provided by savings accounts and investments such as certificates of deposit are causing many people to take a closer look at rental property investing.
  • Several years of record-low interest rates have made people wary of future inflation, which drives them away from the bond market. As an alternative, people invest in physical assets like commodities and real estate, which have the perceived benefit of inflation protection.
  • Many want to diversify their investments, which means moving away from solely investing in the stock market.

If you want to get into rental property investing, you need to learn how to evaluate whether or not a potential rental property is a good investment. The following two formulas will help.

The Cap Rate

First, calculate the capitalization rate, or "cap" rate, on your intended investment. That is the profit you can make from net income generated by the property, or the rate of return you'd make on a house if you were to buy it with cash.

The cap rate is the net income divided by the asset cost. For example:

  • You buy a home for $200,000.
  • It rents for $1,500 per month.
  • Your expenses (taxes, insurance, management, repairs, maintenance) average out to $500 per month. (Remember, that does not include the principal and interest payments on your mortgage, but it does include the escrowed sum for taxes and insurance.)
  • Your property's net operating income is $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year.
  • Your cap rate is $12,000/$200,000 = 0.06, or 6%.

Whether 6% makes a good return on your investment is up to you to decide. If you can find higher-quality tenants in a nicer neighborhood, then 6% could be a great return. If you're getting 6% for a shaky neighborhood with lots of risks, then this return might not be worthwhile.

The One Percent Rule

This is a general rule of thumb that people use when evaluating a rental property. If the gross monthly rent (before expenses) equals at least 1% of the purchase price, they'll look further into the investment. If it doesn't, they'll skip over it.

For example, a $200,000 house—using this rule of thumb—would need to rent for $2,000 per month. If it doesn't, then it doesn't meet the One Percent Rule. Under this rule, the house brings in gross revenue of 12% of the purchase price each year. After expenses, the property may bring a net revenue of 6% to 8% of the purchase price. That is generally considered a good return, but, again, it depends on what area of town you're considering. Nicer neighborhoods tend to have lower rental returns, while rougher neighborhoods tend to have higher returns.

Final Note

Keep in mind that 6% or 8% doesn't mean as much if that interest is non-compounding. To give your returns the same benefit and the same chance of growth as money in the stock market, you'll need to reinvest 100% of the proceeds so your returns can compound upon themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you calculate the ROI on a rental property?

The calculation for the return on investment (ROI) of a rental property is similar to the cap rate. One difference is that the ROI is a more accurate measurement that includes more costs, such as the borrowing costs associated with a rental property mortgage. The cap rate assumes that you bought the house with cash to give you an overall sense of the rental's profitability, while the ROI is a more personal measure of how much you will earn.

How do you calculate the depreciation on rental property?

The cost basis of a residential rental property can be depreciated for 27.5 years. That means you just need to divide the total cost basis by 27.5 to figure out how much to claim in depreciation on your taxes annually. The cost basis is the cost of the property, plus any costs associated with preparing the building for renters, minus the value of the land that the rental building sits on. There are some quirks as to which costs are included in the cost basis, so check IRS Publication 527 for more information as to how to calculate your basis.

Tips on Getting a Return on Rental Property Investments (2024)

FAQs

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

To increase your ROI from your rental property, you need to do four things:
  1. Make it a great place to live.
  2. Advertise it, so prospective tenants know it's available.
  3. Develop an effective tenant screening process to acquire the best tenants for your property.
Apr 11, 2024

What is a realistic ROI for rental property? ›

In general, a good ROI on rental properties is between 5-10% which compares to the average investment return from stocks.

What is the 2 rule for rental properties? ›

What Is the 2% Rule in Real Estate? The 2% rule is a rule of thumb that determines how much rental income a property should theoretically be able to generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a positive cash flow from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What is the 1% rule in rental investment? ›

For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price. If you want to buy an investment property, the 1% rule can be a helpful tool for finding the right property to achieve your investment goals.

What adds most value to rental property? ›

That said, here are some of the top rental property upgrades that add value.
  • Kitchen Renovations.
  • Bathroom Remodel.
  • New Flooring.
  • Overall Painting.
  • Energy-Efficient Features.
  • Updated Curb Appeal.
  • Security Enhancements.
Dec 5, 2023

How can I improve my rental property profitability? ›

Add services like laundry, housekeeping, and amenities like fitness centers, community gardens, or dog parks. Reinvesting rental income grows your investment portfolio, increasing cash flow and net worth. Use rental income for down payments on additional properties or use HELOC to access equity for reinvestment.

What is a good profit 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 much should you profit from a rental property? ›

It is generally recommended to aim for an ROI of 10-15%. However, the ROI that is considered “good” or “bad” is dependent on an individual's financial standing and the particular property they choose to invest in.

What is a good cap rate for a rental property? ›

That said, many analysts consider a "good" cap rate to be around 5% to 10%, while a 4% cap rate indicates lower risk but a longer timeline to recoup an investment.1 There are also other factors to consider, like the features of a local property market, and it is important not to rely on cap rate or any other single ...

What is the 80 20 rule for rental property? ›

In the realm of real estate investment, the 80/20 rule, or Pareto Principle, is a potent tool for maximizing returns. It posits that a small fraction of actions—typically around 20%—drives a disproportionately large portion of results, often around 80%.

What is the 50% rule in rental property? ›

The 50% rule or 50 rule in real estate says that half of the gross income generated by a rental property should be allocated to operating expenses when determining profitability. The rule is designed to help investors avoid the mistake of underestimating expenses and overestimating profits.

What is the Brrrr method? ›

What is BRRRR, and what does it stand for? Letter by letter, BRRRR stands for “Buy, rehab, rent, refinance and repeat.” It's like flipping, but instead of selling the property after renovation, you rent it out with an eye on long-term appreciation.

How long does it take to make a profit on a rental property? ›

Most of the time, you can get positive cash flow right from day one with your rental. Figuring out your profit for the year is a matter of taking how much rent comes in and subtract how much money goes out for expenses like taxes, insurance, and mortgage payments. What you're left with is your profit for the year.

How do you calculate a good rental investment? ›

All the one-percent rule says is that a property should rent for one-percent or more of its total upfront cost. For example: A property that costs $100,000 should rent for at least $1,000 per month. A property that costs $200,000 should rent for at least $2,000 per month.

What is the formula for investing in 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. Your ROI is 15.9%.

Is 5% return on rental property 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.

How do you maximize an investment property? ›

Top 5 Property Management Tips for Maximizing Rental Income
  1. Set Competitive Rental Rates. ...
  2. Maintain Property Condition. ...
  3. Screen Tenants Thoroughly. ...
  4. Implement Effective Lease Management. ...
  5. Automate the process and use technology. ...
  6. Conclusion:
Jul 17, 2023

How do I reinvest rental income? ›

3 Ways to Reinvest Rental Property Cash Flow
  1. Purchase Another Investment Property.
  2. Invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts.
  3. Remodel an Existing Property.
Apr 7, 2023

How do you create cash flow from property? ›

16 Ways To Create Cash Flow In Real Estate
  1. 1) Buy positive cash flow rentals. ...
  2. 2) Flip properties. ...
  3. 3) Charge a finder's fee on JV deals. ...
  4. 4) Offer a mortgage. ...
  5. 5) Become a mortgage agent. ...
  6. 6) Find deals for investors (aka Bird-Dogging) ...
  7. 7) Assigning deals to investors. ...
  8. 8) Become a licensed realtor.

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