Rental Property Cash-on-Cash Return

Know your real return on the cash you invest.

Purchase

Income

Laundry, parking, storage, etc.

Expenses

% of rent

% of rent

Cash-on-Cash Return

0%

Cap Rate

0%

Monthly Cash Flow

$0

Total Cash Invested

$0

NOI (Annual)

$0

Mortgage Payment

$0

1% Rule

--

Rent / Purchase Price

50% Rule Check

--

Operating expenses / Gross rent

Income vs Expenses

Monthly Breakdown

Understanding Cash-on-Cash Return

Cash-on-cash return measures the annual pre-tax cash flow relative to the total cash invested. It answers: "What percentage return am I getting on the actual dollars I put in?"

Formula: CoC = Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested

Cap Rate vs Cash-on-Cash Return

  • Cap Rate = NOI / Purchase Price (ignores financing)
  • Cash-on-Cash = Cash Flow / Cash Invested (includes financing effects)

Leverage amplifies your CoC return. A property with a 6% cap rate financed at 75% LTV might yield a 10%+ CoC return because you're only investing 25% of the price.

Rules of Thumb

  • 1% Rule: Monthly rent should be at least 1% of the purchase price
  • 50% Rule: Operating expenses (excluding mortgage) typically run about 50% of gross rent
  • Good CoC Return: 8-12%+ is generally considered good for rental properties