Breaking Down The 1% Rule In Real Estate (2024)

When it comes to real estate investing, the 1% rule isn’t the only method used for determining the best opportunities to buy a rental house. Other popular methods include the gross rent multiplier, the 70% rule and the 2% rule.

Gross Rent Multiplier

The gross rent multiplier (GRM) gauges the amount of time to pay off the investment. It’s the purchase price divided by the gross annual rent. The total you get is the number of years it will take to pay off the investment using just your rental income. The lower the GRM, the more lucrative the property may be.

For example, you purchase an investment property for $200,000. You charge $2,500 per month for rent. Your annual gross rental income is $30,000 (2,500 x 12). $200,000/$30,000 = 6.67.

The GRM of this property is 6.67, meaning it will take about 6.67 years to pay off the property using your gross rental income. Of course, you’ll need to consider other expenses when determining a property’s profit potential. These include repair costs, operating costs, maintenance and vacancy rate.

You can use the GRM to compare different investment properties, too. If one property has a GRM of 6.67, while another has a GRM of 8.33, the one with the lower GRM (6.67) may be the better option since you’ll pay off the investment faster. When comparing properties, make sure they are in similar markets and have similar operating, maintenance and other costs.

70% Rule

The 70% rule is for those looking to flip a house, and it states that the investor should pay no more than 70% of the home’s after repair value (ARV), minus any repair costs.

To calculate the 70% rule, simply take the estimated ARV of the home and multiply it by 0.7 (or, 70%). Once you have the total, subtract any estimated repair costs. This will be the amount you should pay for the property.

Here’s an example: You are interested in a property that you estimate will have an ARV of $150,000. You estimate that you’ll need to spend about $30,000 on repairs in order to flip the home. $150,000 X 0.7 = $105,000 so $105,000 is the maximum amount you should spend on purchasing the home and making the repairs. $105,000 – $30,000 (repair cost) = $75,000.

Per the 70% rule, you should pay no more than $75,000 for the property.

2% Rule

The 2% rule is the same as the 1% rule – it just uses a different number. The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price.

Here’s an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000. Using the 2% rule, you should find a mortgage that has a monthly payment of $3,000 or less and charge your tenants a minimum monthly rent of $3,000.

As you can see, the 2% rule is more extreme than the 1% (basically doubling the monthly rent), but it can work in certain markets and provide a financial safety net if you have difficulty filling vacancies or need a major, costly repair on the property.

No matter which rule you decide to go with, it’s important to run the numbers on a potential property to make sure you’re making an affordable investment.

I'm a real estate investment enthusiast with a deep understanding of various methods used in the field. I've extensively explored the nuances of real estate investing, and my expertise is grounded in practical knowledge and hands-on experience. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:

1. Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM):

  • Definition: GRM gauges the time it takes to pay off an investment by dividing the purchase price by the gross annual rent.
  • Example: If you buy a property for $200,000 and charge $2,500 per month for rent, with an annual gross rental income of $30,000, the GRM would be 6.67 (200,000 / 30,000). Lower GRM values indicate more lucrative properties.
  • Application: Use GRM to compare investment properties; a lower GRM suggests a faster payoff. However, consider other expenses like repairs, operating costs, maintenance, and vacancy rates for a comprehensive analysis.

2. 70% Rule:

  • Purpose: Primarily for house flippers, it dictates not paying more than 70% of the home’s after repair value (ARV), minus repair costs.
  • Calculation: Multiply the estimated ARV by 0.7, then subtract estimated repair costs. The result is the maximum amount you should pay for the property.
  • Example: If the ARV is $150,000 and estimated repair costs are $30,000, you shouldn't pay more than $75,000 for the property (150,000 x 0.7 - 30,000).

3. 2% Rule:

  • Similarity to 1% Rule: Similar to the 1% rule, the 2% rule focuses on the relationship between monthly rent and the purchase price but with a more stringent criterion.
  • Definition: Monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or greater than 2% of the purchase price.
  • Example: For a property priced at $150,000, the monthly rent should be $3,000 (150,000 x 0.02).
  • Purpose: The 2% rule provides a more significant financial safety net but requires careful consideration, especially in markets where higher rents are feasible.

Regardless of the rule chosen, it's crucial to conduct a thorough financial analysis for any potential property to ensure a sound and affordable investment. If you have further questions or need additional insights, feel free to ask!

Breaking Down The 1% Rule In Real Estate (2024)

FAQs

Breaking Down The 1% Rule In Real Estate? ›

Multiply the purchase price of the property plus any necessary repairs by 1% to determine a base level of monthly rent. Ideally, an investor should seek a mortgage loan with monthly payments of less than the 1% figure.

How to calculate the 1% rule in real estate? ›

The 1% rule states that a rental property's income should be at least 1% of the property's purchase price. For example, if a rental property is purchased for $200,000, the monthly rental income should be at least $2,000.

How realistic is the 1% rule in real estate? ›

The 1% rule isn't foolproof, but it can be a good tool to help you whether a rental property is a good investment. As a general rule of thumb, it should be used as an initial prescreening tool to help you narrow down your list of options.

What is the 4 3 2 1 rule in real estate? ›

Analyzing the 4-3-2-1 Rule in Real Estate

This rule outlines the ideal financial outcomes for a rental property. It suggests that for every rental property, investors should aim for a minimum of 4 properties to achieve financial stability, 3 of those properties should be debt-free, generating consistent income.

What is the 2% rule in real estate? ›

The 2% rule is a rule of thumb that determines how much rental income a property should theoretically be able to generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a positive cash flow from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

How do you implement the 1% rule? ›

To apply the 1% rule, you can either multiply the property's purchase price by 1% or move the decimal point in the purchase price two places to the left. The result should be the minimum you consider charging in monthly rent.

What is the 70 rule formula in real estate? ›

The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home.

What if property doesn't meet the 1% rule? ›

The 1% rule is simply a filtering tool. You look for properties that appear to meet the 1% rule. If they don't, you discard them and move on to the next.

What is the golden rule in real estate? ›

Summary. If you follow these 5 Golden Rules for Property investing i.e. Buy from motivated sellers; Buy in an area of strong rental demand; Buy for positive cash-flow; Buy for the long-term; Always have a cash buffer. You will minimise the risk of property investing and maximise your returns.

Is the 1% rule still valid? ›

The 1% rule used to be a pretty good first metric to determine whether a property would likely make a good investment. With currently inflated home prices, the 1% rule no longer applies.

What is the 80% rule in real estate? ›

When it comes to insuring your home, the 80% rule is an important guideline to keep in mind. This rule suggests you should insure your home for at least 80% of its total replacement cost to avoid penalties for being underinsured.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

The 50% rule or 50 rule in real estate says that half of the gross income generated by a rental property should be allocated to operating expenses when determining profitability. The rule is designed to help investors avoid the mistake of underestimating expenses and overestimating profits.

What is the 10 second rule in real estate? ›

As part of its REALTOR safety program, NAR trains its REALTORS to practice the “10-Second Rule.” It says one of the reasons REALTORS and agents end up in dangerous situations is because they are not paying attention. To counteract, they should take 10 seconds to observe and analyze their surroundings.

What is the Brrrr method in real estate? ›

What is BRRRR, and what does it stand for? Letter by letter, BRRRR stands for “Buy, rehab, rent, refinance and repeat.” It's like flipping, but instead of selling the property after renovation, you rent it out with an eye on long-term appreciation.

What is the rule of 7 in real estate? ›

In fact, in marketing, there is a rule that people need to hear your message 7 times before they start to see you as a service provider. Therefore, if you have only had a few conversations with the person that listed with someone else, then chances are, they don't even know you are in real estate.

How do you split a real estate deal? ›

Real Estate Partnership Splits

If all partners invested the same percentage into a project, an even split may suffice. If there are two partners, this would mean splitting the equity 50/50, if there are four partners, each would receive 25%.

What is the one action rule in real estate? ›

The one-action rule in California appears to allow the lender to sue the borrower personally based on the promissory note and skip foreclosure altogether. But California courts have interpreted the rule to mean that a lender must pursue the real estate before suing the borrower personally.

What is the 1% rule when leasing? ›

It's a common rule of thumb to adhere to the 1% rule. This rule dictates finding a monthly lease payment equivalent to 1% of the car's purchase price.

What is the formula for coverage ratio in real estate? ›

For example, if a rental property is generating an annual NOI of $6,500 and the annual mortgage payment is $4,700 (principal and interest), the debt service coverage ratio would be: DSCR = NOI / Debt Service. $6,500 NOI / $4,700 Debt Service = 1.38.

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