Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about how these calculators work and how to get reliable answers from them.
Frequently asked questions
Are these calculators free?
Yes. Every calculator is free to use with no sign-up. The site is supported by advertising.
Do you save the numbers I enter?
No. All calculations run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored anywhere. See the privacy policy for details.
Why do you use occupancy instead of vacancy?
Occupancy is what lenders, appraisers and property managers report, and it is easier to sanity-check against a rent roll. 95% occupancy is the same as a 5% vacancy rate. Where a vacancy dollar amount is shown, it is labeled with the occupancy it comes from.
What expense ratio should I use?
Use actual expenses divided by actual effective gross income when you have the seller's trailing twelve months. For a quick screen, small multifamily often runs 40% to 50% and single-family rentals with tenant-paid utilities 30% to 40%. Our NOI guide lists what to include.
How is the mortgage payment calculated?
With the standard amortization formula: payment = P x r / (1 - (1 + r)^-n), where P is the loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments. It covers principal and interest only, not taxes or insurance, which are treated as operating expenses.
Can I rely on these results to make a purchase?
Use them to screen and compare deals, not as a final answer. They are estimates based on the numbers you enter. Confirm income and expenses with real documents and check financing terms with your lender before you buy.