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Intermediate terms

Essential Cash Flow & ROI Terms

This curated collection includes key terms that might be helpful when exploring how to measure profitability in real estate investments. It covers core financial metrics used to assess a rental property's success and return. These terms were selected based on common questions and areas where investors often need clarity.

Learning Path

1

Effective Gross Income

Effective Gross Income (EGI) is a realistic measure of a property's total potential revenue, calculated by subtracting estimated vacancy and credit losses from its Potential Gross Income (PGI). It provides a more accurate picture of a property's income-generating capability for financial analysis.

Intermediate12-13 min
2

Property Taxes

Property taxes are recurring taxes levied by local governments on real estate, based on its assessed value, to fund public services and infrastructure.

Beginner12-13 min
3

Capital Expenditures

Capital Expenditures (CapEx) are significant funds spent by a real estate investor to acquire, upgrade, or extend the useful life of a property, rather than for routine maintenance or operating expenses. These investments enhance the property's value and are typically depreciated over time for tax purposes.

Intermediate14-15 min
4

Gross Potential Income

Gross Potential Income (GPI) is the maximum possible revenue a rental property could generate if all units were fully occupied at market rent, including all other income sources, before accounting for expenses.

Beginner13-14 min
5

Leverage

Leverage in real estate is the use of borrowed capital, typically through mortgages, to finance property purchases and amplify potential investment returns.

Intermediate15-18 min
6

Profit

Profit is the financial gain realized from a real estate investment after all associated costs, expenses, and taxes have been subtracted from the total revenue generated.

Beginner3 min
7

Depreciation

Depreciation in real estate is an income tax deduction allowing investors to recover the cost of an income-producing property over its useful life, excluding land value, thereby reducing taxable income.

Intermediate13-14 min
8

Vacancy Rate

The vacancy rate is the percentage of all available rental units in a property or market that are currently unoccupied or not generating income, serving as a key indicator of a property's financial health and market demand.

Beginner13-14 min
9

Pro Forma

A pro forma in real estate is a projected financial statement that estimates future income and expenses for a property or investment, used to evaluate its potential profitability and viability.

Intermediate14-15 min
10

Appreciation

Appreciation in real estate is the increase in a property's market value over time, leading to a profit for the owner when sold or refinanced. It is driven by market forces, economic growth, and property improvements.

Beginner12-13 min
11

Return on Investment

Return on Investment (ROI) is a financial metric that measures the profitability of an investment by comparing the net profit to the initial cost, expressed as a percentage.

Beginner13-14 min
12

Net Operating Income

Net Operating Income (NOI) is a key real estate metric representing a property's annual income after deducting all operating expenses, but before accounting for debt service, income taxes, and capital expenditures.

Intermediate11-12 min
13

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are the ongoing costs of running and maintaining a real estate investment property, excluding mortgage principal and interest payments, and capital expenditures.

Beginner13-14 min
14

Cash-on-Cash Return

Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC) is a real estate investment metric that calculates the annual pre-tax cash flow generated by a property as a percentage of the total cash an investor has invested.

Intermediate15-18 min
15

Internal Rate of Return

The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is a sophisticated financial metric used in capital budgeting to estimate the profitability of potential investments, representing the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of all cash flows from a particular project equals zero.

Advanced15-18 min
16

Debt Service

Debt service is the total amount of principal and interest payments required to repay a loan over a specific period, typically for a mortgage or other property-related financing.

Beginner11-12 min
17

Rental Income

Rental income is the total revenue generated from an investment property through rent payments and other fees, before or after deducting operating expenses. It is a critical metric for evaluating a property's profitability and investment viability.

Intermediate15-18 min
18

Debt Service Coverage Ratio

The Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is a financial metric used in commercial real estate lending to assess a property's ability to generate sufficient Net Operating Income (NOI) to cover its annual mortgage debt payments.

Advanced15-18 min
19

Capitalization Rate

The Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) is a real estate valuation metric used to estimate the potential rate of return on an investment property, calculated by dividing its Net Operating Income (NOI) by its current market value.

Intermediate14-15 min