Estimate monthly cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return, and DSCR for any rental property investment. See a full expense breakdown and find the break-even rent.
Purchase & Financing
Typically 20-25% for investment
Typically 2-5% of purchase price
Rental Income
5-10% typical
Operating Expenses
Day-to-day repairs, 5-10%
Roof, HVAC, appliances — 5-10%
8-12% if using a manager, 0% if self-managing
Monthly Cash Flow
$19
Cap Rate
6.48%
Cash-on-Cash Return
0.42%
Annual Cash Flow
$233
NOI
$16,200
DSCR
1.01x
GRM
10.4
Total Cash Invested
$55,000
Monthly Mortgage
$1,331
Break-even rent: This property needs at least $1,977/mo to cover all expenses. Your rent of $2,000/mo is $23 above break-even.
DSCR: 1.01x — This property covers its debt service, but is below the 1.25x threshold many lenders require.
| Expense | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I) | $1,331 |
| Property Tax | $250 |
| Insurance | $100 |
| Vacancy | $100 |
| Maintenance | $100 |
| CapEx Reserves | $100 |
| Total Expenses | $1,981 |
Need accurate rent data for your analysis?
Get real rent estimates and comps for any U.S. property — so the numbers in this calculator actually mean something.
A rental property calculator is only as good as the numbers you feed it. The most important input is rent — overestimate by $200/month and a bad deal looks good. Start with accurate rental comps, then layer in realistic expenses. This calculator includes CapEx reserves alongside maintenance because they serve different purposes: maintenance covers day-to-day repairs, while CapEx reserves save for large capital items like a new roof, HVAC, or water heater.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is the metric lenders use to determine if a property generates enough income to cover its mortgage payments. It is calculated as NOI divided by annual debt service. A DSCR of 1.0 means the property exactly covers the mortgage. Most lenders require 1.25x or higher for DSCR loans, which are increasingly popular with investors because they qualify based on the property's income rather than your personal income.
Most experienced investors target at least $100 to $200 per unit in positive monthly cash flow after all expenses. Cap rate gives you a snapshot without financing, while cash-on-cash return shows how hard your invested dollars work. For a quick screening before running a full analysis, try our 1% rule calculator. To see just the mortgage payment, use the mortgage calculator with extra payment modeling.
The most common mistake is underestimating expenses. New investors forget about vacancy, underbudget maintenance, and ignore CapEx entirely. A property that looks great on paper can bleed money when the roof needs replacing in year three. Budget at least 5% of rent for maintenance and another 5% for CapEx reserves. If you are not self-managing, add 8-12% for a property manager. And always use actual market rent from comparable properties, not the asking rent on a listing.
Search any U.S. address and get rental comps, rent estimates, and market data instantly. No credit card required.
Look up HUD Fair Market Rents and Section 8 rent limits by zip code.
Calculate monthly mortgage payments, total interest, and amortization for rental properties.
Calculate the capitalization rate to compare investment properties.
Apply the 1% rule to quickly screen rental property deals.