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🏠 Free Investor Tool · Updated May 2026

Deal Analyzer — Analyze Any Real Estate Deal in 60 Seconds

Enter purchase price, monthly rent, rehab costs, and expenses — get an instant verdict: cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return, DSCR, and a 5-year ROI projection. Target benchmarks: positive monthly cash flow, 8%+ CoC return, DSCR above 1.25. Most analyses complete in under 60 seconds, no signup required.

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Tool Demo — How It Works (Visual Walkthrough)

Follow these steps to analyze any deal in under 60 seconds.

Step 1
🏷️
Enter Purchase Details
Input purchase price, down payment %, and closing costs.
Step 2
🏦
Set Financing Terms
Enter loan amount, interest rate, and mortgage term.
Step 3
💵
Add Income & Expenses
Enter monthly rent, taxes, insurance, vacancy, and management fees.
Step 4
📊
Get Buy/Pass Verdict
Instantly see cash flow, cap rate, CoC return, and a clear deal verdict.
🎬 Video walkthrough coming soon — check back for a full step-by-step tutorial.
Illustrative example
Conventional: 20–25% for investment
Typically 2–4% of purchase price
Enter 0 if buying turnkey
Auto-calculated from purchase − down payment
Parking, laundry, storage, etc.
% of purchase price annually
Typical range: 5–10%
% of collected rents; 0 if self-managing
Awaiting Analysis
Enter property details above and click Analyze to see your deal score.
Monthly Cash Flow
After all expenses & mortgage
Annual Cash Flow
12 months net
Cap Rate
NOI / Purchase Price
Cash-on-Cash Return
Annual CF / Cash Invested
Total Cash Invested
Down + Closing + Rehab
Gross Rent Multiplier
Price / Annual Rent
Debt Coverage Ratio
NOI / Annual Debt Service
Annual NOI
Net Operating Income
Monthly Mortgage P&I
Principal & Interest

📊 Monthly Expense Breakdown

Total Monthly Expenses

📈 5-Year Cash Flow Projection (3% annual rent & value growth assumed)

Year Annual Rent Gross Income Operating Expenses Mortgage Net Cash Flow Cumulative CF
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Actual results vary. This is for illustration purposes only. Consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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How to Analyze a Real Estate Deal

Analyzing a real estate deal means translating raw property numbers into a clear answer: does this investment make financial sense at this price? Professional investors use a consistent framework — you input the numbers, the math tells you whether to buy or pass. Here's how each metric works.

Step 1: Calculate Your True All-In Cost

Your total cash invested is more than just the down payment. Add closing costs (typically 2–4% of purchase price), any rehab or renovation budget, and reserves you'll need for the first 3–6 months of ownership. This is your real equity at risk — and it's the denominator in your cash-on-cash return calculation.

Step 2: Project Realistic Income

Start with market rents — not wishful thinking. Research comparable rentals in the same zip code on Zillow, Apartments.com, and your local MLS. Then apply a vacancy factor: even in tight markets, budget 5–6% for turnover and leasing time. This gives you Effective Gross Income (EGI), the rent you'll actually collect over a year.

Step 3: Account for Every Expense

New investors consistently underestimate expenses. Use these benchmarks:

  • Maintenance: 1–2% of purchase price per year. Older properties need more.
  • Vacancy: 5–8% for single-family, 6–10% for multifamily.
  • Property Management: 8–12% of collected rents if hiring a PM company.
  • CapEx Reserve: Budget separately for roof, HVAC, and major systems.

The mortgage is a real expense too — but it's treated separately from operating expenses when calculating cap rate, since cap rate measures the property's return independent of financing.

Step 4: Calculate the Key Metrics

Cap Rate = NOI ÷ Purchase Price. This tells you the unlevered yield — what the property returns before financing. Compare to other local sales to gauge relative value.

Cash-on-Cash Return = Annual Cash Flow ÷ Total Cash Invested. This is your actual yield on the money you put in — the most important number for leveraged investors. Target 8–12% minimum.

Debt Coverage Ratio (DCR) = NOI ÷ Annual Debt Service. Lenders require 1.25 minimum; 1.35+ is preferred. Below 1.0 means the property can't cover its own mortgage from rents alone.

Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) = Purchase Price ÷ Annual Gross Rent. A quick screening metric — lower is better. Under 10 is generally favorable; above 15 warrants scrutiny.

Use this analyzer alongside our Cap Rate Calculator, Cash Flow Calculator, and the complete BRRRR Calculator Guide for a full investment analysis workflow. Once you own the property, track it alongside your other holdings in the Investment Tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good cash-on-cash return for rental property? +
Most investors target 8–12% cash-on-cash return. Below 6% is generally considered weak; above 12% is strong, especially in competitive markets. The benchmark varies by market — high-appreciation coastal markets often trade lower cash-on-cash for appreciation upside, while Midwest and Sun Belt markets can yield 10–15% on the right deals.
What is a good cap rate for an investment property? +
Cap rates vary significantly by market and asset class. Single-family rentals in primary coastal markets typically trade at 4–6%. Secondary and tertiary markets often yield 6–9%. A "good" cap rate depends on local context — compare to similar recent sales rather than national benchmarks. Higher cap rates generally indicate higher risk or lower-appreciation markets.
What expenses should I include when analyzing a rental deal? +
Core expenses: property taxes, homeowner's insurance, HOA fees, maintenance budget (1–2% of value/year), vacancy allowance (5–8%), property management fees (8–12% if using a PM), and your mortgage P&I. Don't forget capital expenditure reserves for roof, HVAC, water heater, and appliances — these are often the biggest surprises for new landlords.
What is the 1% rule in real estate investing? +
The 1% rule says monthly rent should equal at least 1% of the purchase price. A $200,000 property should rent for at least $2,000/month. It's a quick screening filter — not a substitute for full analysis. In expensive coastal markets, 0.6–0.8% is the practical ceiling. In the Midwest, 1–1.5% is achievable. Always run a complete deal analysis before deciding.
How do I calculate NOI on a rental property? +
NOI (Net Operating Income) = Effective Gross Income − All Operating Expenses. Operating expenses include taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance, and property management — but NOT your mortgage payment. Effective Gross Income = Annual Rent × (1 − vacancy rate). Once you have NOI, divide by purchase price to get cap rate.
Related Tools & Guides
🏢 Related Property Management Tools
🏠 Valuation EstimatorEstimate fair market value before you buy 🔧 Maintenance PredictorFactor maintenance costs into your deal 🏢 PM Tools HubAll landlord & PM tools
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