#rental-calculator-wrapperBox {
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
padding: 30px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.calc-header h2 {
margin: 0;
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 28px;
}
.calc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 30px;
}
.input-section {
background: #ffffff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 6px;
border: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-section {
background: #2c3e50;
color: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 6px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
justify-content: center;
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.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
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.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 14px;
color: #555;
}
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box;
font-size: 15px;
}
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font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #27ae60;
margin-bottom: 15px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #27ae60;
padding-bottom: 5px;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.section-title:first-child {
margin-top: 0;
}
.btn-calc {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
margin-top: 20px;
transition: background 0.3s;
}
.btn-calc:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
margin-bottom: 15px;
border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
padding-bottom: 10px;
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.result-row:last-child {
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.result-label {
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opacity: 0.9;
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.result-value {
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
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.main-result {
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 4px;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
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.main-result-label {
font-size: 16px;
margin-bottom: 5px;
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.main-result-value {
font-size: 32px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2ecc71;
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.seo-content {
line-height: 1.6;
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.seo-content h2 {
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margin-top: 30px;
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.seo-content h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
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.seo-content ul {
margin-left: 20px;
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@media (max-width: 768px) {
.calc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
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}
function calculateCashFlow() {
// Get inputs
var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_price').value) || 0;
var downPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_down').value) || 0;
var closing = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_closing').value) || 0;
var rehab = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_rehab').value) || 0;
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_rate').value) || 0;
var term = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_term').value) || 0;
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_rent').value) || 0;
var taxYear = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_tax').value) || 0;
var insYear = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_ins').value) || 0;
var hoaMonth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_hoa').value) || 0;
var maintPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_maint').value) || 0;
var vacancyPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_vacancy').value) || 0;
var pmPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rc_pm').value) || 0;
// Calculations
var downAmount = price * (downPercent / 100);
var loanAmount = price – downAmount;
var totalInvestment = downAmount + closing + rehab;
// Mortgage P&I
var monthlyRate = (rate / 100) / 12;
var numPayments = term * 12;
var mortgage = 0;
if (rate > 0) {
mortgage = loanAmount * (monthlyRate * Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numPayments)) / (Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, numPayments) – 1);
} else {
mortgage = loanAmount / numPayments;
}
// Monthly Expenses
var taxMonth = taxYear / 12;
var insMonth = insYear / 12;
var maintMonth = rent * (maintPercent / 100);
var vacancyMonth = rent * (vacancyPercent / 100);
var pmMonth = rent * (pmPercent / 100);
var totalOpsExpenses = taxMonth + insMonth + hoaMonth + maintMonth + vacancyMonth + pmMonth;
var totalMonthlyExpenses = totalOpsExpenses + mortgage;
// Metrics
var cashFlow = rent – totalMonthlyExpenses;
var annualCashFlow = cashFlow * 12;
var coc = 0;
if (totalInvestment > 0) {
coc = (annualCashFlow / totalInvestment) * 100;
}
var noi = (rent * 12) – (totalOpsExpenses * 12);
var capRate = 0;
if (price > 0) {
capRate = (noi / price) * 100;
}
// Formatting currency
var fmt = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD' });
// Output Results
document.getElementById('res_cashflow').innerHTML = fmt.format(cashFlow);
document.getElementById('res_cashflow').style.color = cashFlow >= 0 ? '#2ecc71' : '#e74c3c';
document.getElementById('res_coc').innerHTML = coc.toFixed(2) + '%';
document.getElementById('res_cap').innerHTML = capRate.toFixed(2) + '%';
document.getElementById('res_income').innerHTML = fmt.format(rent);
document.getElementById('res_mortgage').innerHTML = fmt.format(mortgage);
document.getElementById('res_expenses').innerHTML = fmt.format(totalOpsExpenses); // Showing ops expenses separate from mortgage for clarity
document.getElementById('res_investment').innerHTML = fmt.format(totalInvestment);
}
Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator
Analyze your real estate investment deal instantly.
Purchase Details
Loan Details
Rental Income
Recurring Expenses
Monthly Cash Flow
$0.00
Cash on Cash ROI
0.00%
Cap Rate
0.00%
Monthly Income
$0.00
Monthly Mortgage (P&I)
$0.00
Monthly Expenses
$0.00
Total Cash Needed
$0.00
How to Analyze a Rental Property Investment
Investing in real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build long-term wealth, but not every property is a good deal. Successful investors rely on data, not gut feelings. Using a Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator helps you objectively evaluate whether a property will put money in your pocket (positive cash flow) or take it out (negative cash flow).
What is Rental Cash Flow?
Cash flow is the net income from a real estate investment after all mortgage payments and operating expenses have been made. It is calculated using the following formula:
Cash Flow = Total Monthly Rental Income – Total Monthly Expenses
If the result is positive, the property is generating income. If it is negative, you are losing money every month to hold the asset.
Key Metrics Explained
When using this calculator, you will encounter several critical financial metrics. Understanding these is essential for making informed investment decisions:
- Cash on Cash Return (CoC): This measures the annual return on the actual cash you invested (down payment, closing costs, and rehab costs). It is often considered the most important metric for investors because it shows how hard your specific dollars are working. A CoC return of 8-12% is often considered a solid target for rental properties.
- Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate): This measures the property's natural rate of return assuming you paid for it essentially in cash, without a loan. It is calculated by dividing the Net Operating Income (NOI) by the property's value. It helps compare properties irrespective of financing methods.
- Net Operating Income (NOI): This is your total income minus operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy) but excluding mortgage payments. Lenders look at this number closely.
Estimating Expenses Correctly
The biggest mistake new investors make is underestimating expenses. When using the calculator above, ensure you account for:
- Vacancy Rate: Properties are rarely occupied 100% of the time. A standard estimate is 5% to 8%, meaning you anticipate the unit being empty for a few weeks each year.
- Maintenance & Repairs: Even if a house is new, things break. Setting aside 5% to 10% of the rent for future repairs is a prudent safety net.
- Property Management: Even if you plan to self-manage, it is wise to calculate the deal with a 10% management fee. This ensures the deal still makes sense if you eventually decide to hire a professional manager.
Is the "1% Rule" Still Valid?
The 1% Rule is a quick "rule of thumb" used to screen properties. It states that the monthly rent should be at least 1% of the purchase price. For example, a $200,000 home should rent for $2,000/month. While useful for a quick glance, it is not a substitute for a detailed cash flow analysis. In high-cost markets, properties rarely meet the 1% rule but may still offer excellent appreciation potential or tax benefits.
How to Improve Cash Flow
If the calculator shows a negative or low cash flow, consider these strategies:
- Increase the Down Payment: This lowers your loan amount and monthly mortgage payment.
- Shop for Lower Interest Rates: Even a 0.5% difference can significantly impact your monthly bottom line.
- Value-Add Renovations: strategic improvements (like new flooring or modern fixtures) may allow you to increase the rent significantly.
- Challenge Property Taxes: If the assessed value is too high, you can appeal to lower your annual tax bill.
Use the calculator above to run multiple scenarios. Adjust the purchase price, rent estimates, and expense ratios to see how sensitive your investment is to changes in the market.