Rental Property Analyzer
Get a complete financial breakdown for any rental property — cap rate, DSCR, cash-on-cash return, and a deal score — all in real time.
Understanding Your Results
Each metric answers a different question about a deal. Here's what they mean and how to interpret the numbers you see.
Deal Score
0–10Composite rating based on cap rate, cash-on-cash return, and DSCR.
8–10: Strong Buy · 5–7: Moderate · 0–4: Avoid
Cap Rate
% returnAnnual NOI divided by property value. Mortgage-independent.
< 4%: Low · 4–7%: Moderate · 7%+: Strong
Cash-on-Cash Return
% returnAnnual cash flow divided by cash invested (your down payment).
< 5%: Low · 5–10%: Moderate · 10%+: Strong
DSCR
ratioNOI divided by annual debt service. Lenders require 1.25x minimum.
< 1.0: Negative · 1.0–1.25: Marginal · 1.25+: Healthy
Annual Cash Flow
$ amountWhat's left after all expenses and mortgage payments.
Positive means the property pays you. Negative means you cover the gap.
How to Evaluate a Rental Property
No single metric tells the full story. Here's a practical checklist.
Check NOI and cap rate first
Before factoring in financing, is the property fundamentally productive? A cap rate below 4% in a non-gateway market is a red flag.
Verify DSCR meets lender minimums
If you need a loan, DSCR below 1.25x means you may not qualify or will need a larger down payment to make the numbers work.
Evaluate cash-on-cash against alternatives
Compare your CoC return against other investments. A 6% CoC on a rental property competes with index funds and bonds — consider what else is on the table.
Stress test at higher vacancy
What happens if vacancy is 15% instead of 8%? Run a downside scenario. If the deal still works, you have real cushion. If it breaks, you're relying on best-case assumptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What metrics does this rental property analyzer calculate?+
This analyzer calculates Cap Rate, Cash-on-Cash Return, DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio), Annual NOI, Annual Cash Flow, Loan Amount, and a composite Deal Score from 0–10. The deal score is based on all three primary metrics weighted together.
How is the deal score calculated?+
The deal score (0–10) is a weighted composite: cap rate contributes up to 4 points, cash-on-cash return up to 3 points, and DSCR up to 3 points. A score of 8–10 is a Strong Buy, 5–7 is Moderate, and below 5 is Risky. A score alone doesn't tell the whole story — always read the supporting metrics.
What should I include in monthly expenses?+
Include: property management (8–12% of rent), maintenance and repairs (~1% of property value annually), insurance, property taxes, and HOA fees if applicable. Do NOT include your mortgage — that's already in the DSCR and cash flow calculation. A common mistake is double-counting the mortgage as an expense.
What vacancy rate should I use?+
The national average is around 6–8% for residential rentals. Use 5% if you're in a high-demand urban area with low vacancy, 8–10% for typical suburban markets, and 12–15% for areas with more supply or seasonal demand. When in doubt, use 8% as a conservative baseline.
How is this different from IntelSight's full analysis?+
This free calculator gives you the core financial metrics instantly. The full IntelSight analysis adds: AI-written investment memo (buy/pass recommendation in plain English), downside stress scenarios (what happens at higher vacancy and expenses), detailed risk flags, Rentcast market benchmarks for US properties, PDF export, and the ability to save and compare multiple deals.