Comprehensive Guide
Learn more in our Investing Guide.
How it works
real estate cash flow projector takes your inputs and produces year 1 annual cash flow, year 5 annual cash flow, year 10 annual cash flow. Project rental property cash flow over 10 years with rent escalation and expense growth. You provide 4 inputs: Monthly Rent (currency, in dollars) (default: 2500 dollars); Monthly Expenses (incl. mortgage) (currency, in dollars) (default: 1800 dollars); Annual Rent Growth % (percent, in percent) (default: 3 percent); Annual Expense Growth % (percent, in percent) (default: 2 percent). The calculator returns 3 outputs: Year 1 Annual Cash Flow (the primary result); Year 5 Annual Cash Flow (a secondary output); Year 10 Annual Cash Flow (a secondary output). Investment calculations rest on a few variables — principal, return rate, time, and compounding — but their interaction is non-linear enough that intuition alone gets the answer wrong more often than not. This tool runs the real formula with your inputs and shows the numbers that matter, not the rounded approximations from a textbook. With the default values, year 1 annual cash flow is computed from the interaction of every input field — change any one of them and the result updates immediately, so you can stress-test different scenarios without re-entering the whole form. Adjust the inputs to match your real financial situation. The defaults are realistic starting points, but every person's circumstances differ — your actual income, expenses, rates, and timelines will produce a different answer. Use the tool iteratively: start with the defaults, then change one variable at a time to see which factor has the largest impact on your outcome.Tips
- Start with the default values to see a baseline result, then change one input at a time to understand which factor matters most for your outcome.
- Replace every default with your actual number — estimates and rules of thumb produce estimates, not answers. Pull your real figures from pay stubs, statements, or account dashboards.
- Use a conservative return rate (5-6% rather than the historical 10%) for planning purposes. Markets have long flat stretches, and planning on the average sets you up for a shortfall.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good rental cash flow?
$200-$500/month per unit. Year 1: $8,400. Year 5: $12,000+. Year 10: $16,000+ with 3% rent growth.
How accurate are the calculator results?
The math is exact — the same formulas a financial professional would use by hand. The precision of the output depends entirely on how realistic your inputs are. Use your actual numbers rather than estimates when possible. The defaults are reasonable starting points, but your real income, rates, and timeline will produce a different result.
What should I enter for monthly rent?
Enter your actual monthly rent value. The default of 2500 dollars is a common starting point, but replace it with your real figure for an accurate result.