1% Rule in Real Estate: What It Is, How It Works, Examples (2024)

What Is the One Percent Rule?

The one percent rule, sometimes stylized as the "1% rule," is used to determine if the monthly rent earned from a piece of investment property will exceed that property's monthly mortgage payment. The goal of the rule is to ensure that the rent will be greater than or—at worst—equal to the mortgage payment, so the investor at least breaks even on the property.

Key Takeaways:

  • The rent charged should be equal to or greater than the investor's mortgage payment to ensure that they at least break even on the property.
  • 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.

The one percent rule can provide a baseline for establishing the level of rent that commercial property owners charge on real estate space. This rent level can apply to all types of tenants in both residential and commercial real estate properties.

Purchasing a piece of property for investment requires a thorough analysis of numerous factors. The one percent rule is just one measurement tool that can help an investor gauge the risk and potential gain that might be achieved by investing in a property.

How the One Percent Rule Works

This simple calculation multiplies the purchase price of the property plus any necessary repairs by 1%. The result is a base level of monthly rent. It's also compared to the potential monthly mortgage payment to give the owner a better understanding of the property’s monthly cash flow.

This rule is only used for quick estimation because it doesn't take into account other costs associated with a piece of property, such as upkeep, insurance, and taxes.

Example of the One Percent Rule

An investor is looking to obtain a mortgage loan on a rental property with a total payoff value of $200,000. Using the one percent rule, the owner would calculate a $2,000 monthly rent payment: $200,000 multiplied by 1%. In this case, the investor would seek a mortgage loan with monthly payments of less than and absolutely no more than $2,000.

The One Percent Rule vs. Other Types of Calculations

The one percent rule also helps give an investor a base point from which to consider other factors regarding the ownership of a property. A second important calculation is the gross rent multiplier, which uses the monthly rent level to determine the amount of time it will take to pay off the investment. This calculation is achieved by dividing the total borrowed value by the monthly rent.

In the example of the home with a value of $200,000, the investor would divide $200,000 by $2,000. This gives the investor a 100-month payoff period, which translates to a little over 8.3 years. Investors can also use the gross rent multiplier when considering the payment schedule terms of a loan taken for the property.

The 70% rule implies that an investor should not pay more than 70% of the property's estimated value after repairs fewer costs.

Special Considerations

In calculating the gross rent multiplier, a buyer must also consider the rental rates in the area in which the property is located. If the standard rate for rent in the neighborhood is less than $2,000 for the buyer in this example, the investor might have to consider decreasing the rent to ensure that they find a tenant.

Another important factor to consider is maintenance on the property. The property owner is responsible for upkeep and repairs. While a deposit might cover substantial damages, it's also important for the owner to budget a specified amount of the rent for savings toward maintenance. This can contribute to profits if it's unused, and the money would be available when any maintenance needs arise.

Overall, investing in real estate can be lucrative for long-term investors. The base rent that an owner charges on any type of property sets the level of payments expected by tenants. Owners typically raise rent annually to manage inflation and other costs associated with the property, but the base rate is an important level that determines the overall return on an investment.

1% Rule in Real Estate: What It Is, How It Works, Examples (2024)

FAQs

1% Rule in Real Estate: What It Is, How It Works, Examples? ›

If you want to buy an investment property

investment property
An investment property is real estate purchased to generate passive income. In other words, the property can earn a return on investment through rental income, resale or both. Investment properties are typically purchased by individual investors or groups of real estate investors.
https://www.rocketmortgage.com › learn › investment-property
, the 1% rule can be a helpful tool for finding the right property to achieve your investment goals. For example, if you buy a $300,000 investment property, you should earn at least $3,000 a month in rent to satisfy the 1% rule in real estate.

What is the 1 percent rule in real estate example? ›

What is the 1% rule in relation to the property's purchase price? 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.

How do you calculate the 1% rule? ›

How the One Percent Rule Works. This simple calculation multiplies the purchase price of the property plus any necessary repairs by 1%. The result is a base level of monthly rent. It's also compared to the potential monthly mortgage payment to give the owner a better understanding of the property's monthly cash flow.

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 golden rule in real estate? ›

The golden rule

Buy a property with 20% down. [That] has always been my formula because they used to do with 10%, but it's not possible anymore. I repeated that formula again and again and again, and then making sure the tenant has paid my mortgage. It's pretty easy that way.”

How to calculate if a rental property is worth it? ›

Simply divide the median house price by the median annual rent to generate a ratio. As a general rule of thumb, consumers should consider buying when the ratio is under 15 and rent when it is above 20.

Is the 1% rule outdated? ›

The 1% rent-to-price (RTP) ratio rule, once a go-to method for estimating rental property cash flow, may no longer hold its ground in today's real estate landscape. Recent evidence suggests that this rule is losing its effectiveness due to inflated home prices and shifts in the rental market.

Is the 1% rule unrealistic? ›

Limitations of the 1% Rule

For example, if the median list price in a metro area is over $1 million, the 1% rule would necessitate rents of close to $10,000 per month. In this case, investors would forgo the 1% rule for a more realistic assessment of what makes a viable investment.

How to find properties that meet the 1% rule? ›

If you want to buy an investment property, the 1% rule can be a helpful tool for finding the right property to achieve your investment goals. For example, if you buy a $300,000 investment property, you should earn at least $3,000 a month in rent to satisfy the 1% rule in real estate.

What is the 1% rule process? ›

The "1% Rule" is if you can just consistently and persistently be 1% better at what you do each day, over the course of a year or a decade you will make significant progress.

How do you implement the 1% rule? ›

Here are a few tips on how to apply the 1% rule to your life:
  1. Start small. Don't try to change too much at once. ...
  2. Be consistent. The key to the 1% rule is to be consistent with your efforts. ...
  3. Track your progress. It's helpful to track your progress so that you can see how far you've come and stay motivated.
Oct 15, 2023

Why the 1% rule doesn't work? ›

The 1% Rule is actually very limited because it only deals with the total rent or the gross rent that you actually collect, and it doesn't take into account all of the expenses that you could have on that rental property.

What is the 90 10 rule in real estate? ›

Roger shared his 10/90 rule, balancing risk by investing 10% in higher-risk projects and 90% in stable, cash-flowing properties. This strategy helps navigate economic cycles and maintain a steady income stream.

What is the rule of 72 in real estate? ›

Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What is the 80% rule in real estate? ›

In the realm of real estate investment, the 80/20 rule, or Pareto Principle, is a potent tool for maximizing returns. It posits that a small fraction of actions—typically around 20%—drives a disproportionately large portion of results, often around 80%.

What is the 7% rule in real estate? ›

It has often been said that 20% of the players do 80% of the business: the 80/20 rule as it is sometimes referred to. However, this contrast has reportedly become even starker in the real estate world. According to the data, just 7% of real estate agents do 93% of the business.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

The 50 Percent Rule is a shortcut that real estate investors can use to quickly predict the total operating expenses that a rental property investment is likely to generate. To work out a property's monthly operating expenses using the 50 rule, you simply multiply the property 's gross rent income by 50%.

Why is there a 70% rule 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.

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