How to determine cap rate in real estate?

How to Determine the Cap Rate in Real Estate: A Beginner’s Guide

Understanding the capitalization rate, or cap rate, is an essential concept in real estate investment. It calculates the return on investment of a property relative to its value. Calculating cap rate helps real estate professionals assess the profitability of a potential investment. However, determining the correct cap rate for a property can be tricky. In this article, we will explore how to calculate the cap rate in real estate using the right tools and techniques.

Determining the Cap Rate Definition

Cap rate formula:
Annual Net Income / Value of the Investment = Cap Rate

A cap rate represents the rate at which expected income streams from the investment can create a return if the property’s value remains static. In most cases, the return is composed of rental income (net rental income, or NOI) received by the property in the form of positive cash flow.

Let’s calculate a cap rate: Noel’s Cozy 12-unit apartment building.

*h3>Let’s Define the Inputs:

  • Market value: $300,000 (market value of Noel’s Apartment building)
  • Annual Operating Expenses (COGs): $63,000 ($52,000 rents +$6,000 admin + $5,000 utilities – $500 misc. expenses
  • Annual Pre-Tax Rent: $45,000 (yearly before deductions)
  • Annual Gross Operating Income: $47,000 ($300,000 (revenue income – 63,000 (OS and EBITDA -$2.00

*h3>Income Cap Rate Calculation Example:

Annual Net Operating Income (NOI):
($47,000) – ($33,000 property tax) – ($200 property insurance $2K vacancy and
$17,000 maintenance capex
Annual Net Operating Income (NOI); 14$3′
3(13,33.45 (1NOI=$0.16 (no vacancy)0.55$1 rent per per

Cap rate calculation in a nutshell:



20% per year (18.37$1(0 per
$63,5 ** 0%

Determining the Cap Rate and Annual Net Operating Income (NOI) Using the Income Cap Method

Another way is to compare it to that of alternative investment options e.i, bonds:

The Alternative Investment Universe:

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