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Basic Real Estate Investing Terminology

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Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs TX Broker 0513551

Real Estate Investing Terminology

With real estate leasing going strong in many parts of the nation, you may be considering getting into Real Estate Investing. In this blog, I’ll describe some of the basic terminology.

All examples will be based upon a $100,000 purchase price, $1,000 a month rent, $300 a month operating expenses, and a $450 a month mortgage.

Gross Rent Multiplier

GRM is used to describe a ratio between the cost of a property and the anticipated rental rate. It calculated by dividing the purchase price of the property by the monthly rent. In our example, we would use $100,000 / 1,000 to arrive at a GRM of 10. The higher the number is the better.

Net Operating Income

Net Operating Income is the total cost of the property excluding any mortgage. It’s calculated by adding up all the operating expenses including taxes, insurance, management fees, leasing fees, maintenance, and HOA dues. The total monthly costs are $300 and the monthly rent is $1,000. We would use $1,000 - $300 to arrive at a Net Operating Income of $700. Use $700 * 12 to arrive at an Annual Net Operating Income of $8,400

Capitalization Rate

The Capitalization rate is a ratio between the Net Operating Income and either the original or current market value of a property. We would use $8,400 / $100,000 to arrive at an annual Capitalization Rate of 8.4 percent.

Cash Flow

Cash Flow is the movement of cash in and out of the property. Positive cash flow is usually the goal. It is calculated by subtracting the Net Operating Income and any existing debt from the Gross Income. We would use $1000 – ($300 + $450) to arrive at a monthly Cash Flow of $250.

Occupancy Rate

Occupancy Rate is the ratio between the amount of time a property is rented and the amount of time is vacant. If there is no actual data, I usually use 90 percent as a starting point for analyzing a property.

Knowing the basic terminology and how to calculate them is essential to evaluating any real estate investment purchase.

Looking to purchase investment properties in the North Dallas area? Contact us! We have the experience and knowledge to find good investment properties, lease them to suitable tenants, and provide on-going property management if needed.

Tom Branch, Broker, CDPE, SFR

Source: http://www.thebranchteam.com/wordpress/2011/08/13/basic-real-estate-investing-terminology/

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Tom Branch and Gina Branch, The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, service the greater North Dallas suburbs including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Lewisville, and Carrollton.  While Gina concentrates on traditional listings and buyer/tenant representation, Tom specializes in assisting distressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure.  Tom and Gina have published two books (Achieving Rock Star Status and The Field Guide to Short Sales) and are available for speaking engagements in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Subscribe to The Branch Team Blog.

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Comments(7)

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Tom * these terms make my head hurt and I feel like I need to find my first HP real estate calculator.......Great explanations as many investors know that they SHOULD know what they mean and do not know how to apply them to a prospective real estate investment!

Aug 13, 2011 12:30 AM
Tom Branch
RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs - Plano, TX
Broker, CDPE, SFR, ACRE, Plano TX Ambassador

Wallace,

Even if they can't do the math themselves, it allows them to work with their agent. I'm going to sit down and write a spreadsheet this afternoon to do the math.

Tom

Aug 13, 2011 12:32 AM
Al Raymondi
Ocean View Realty Group in Ormond By The Sea Florida - Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond By The Sea Florida - Home and Condo Sales

Nice recap of these basic investment terms Tom, far too many "investors" have no clue when it comes to determining a good or financially disastrous purchase and use their "gut" to make decisions.

Aug 13, 2011 01:37 AM
Cal Yoder
Keller Williams Elite - Lititz, PA
Homes For Sale in Lancaster PA - 717.413.0744

Good stuff Tom. Understanding these factors is necessary for anyone considering real estate investment.

Cal

Aug 15, 2011 02:31 AM
Ricky D. Sadler
Real Estate Marketing Experts &Trusted Senior Advisors on Property Management services, Rentals Leasing, Landlord Ten... - Seattle, WA
Trusted Senior Property Advisor & Marketing Expert

Great Job- Tom, i liked the old day when they just though money at me-LOL and told me to go buy something that looked nice-

Ricky D Seattle WA

WWW.RD-house.com

Aug 16, 2011 12:05 PM
Michael Nugent
Prudential Califoirnia Realty - Corona, CA
Sells Corona, Eastvale & Riverside
This is awesome information. It was great to refresh on the terminologies.
Aug 23, 2011 07:00 PM
David Companik
Keller Williams Realty - The Woodlands - The Woodlands, TX
Realtor ▪ The WoodlandsTX ▪ davidcompanik.com

Excellent post, Tom, and a good starting point for any investor in real estate.

Aug 30, 2011 07:08 AM