The cash-on-cash return rate measures cash flow before tax relative to the amount of cash invested in a property investment.
Written by
Ben Luxon
PUBLISHED ON
8
Dec
2020
The cash-on-cash return rate, also known as cash yield, measures the amount of cash flow relative to the amount of cash invested in a property investment and is calculated on a pre-tax basis. This is often a favored calculation for real estate investors as it is a reasonably accurate estimate of cash flow.
The cash-on-cash return metric measures only the return for the current period, typically one year, rather than for the life of the investment or project.
Having a good cash-on-cash return rate determines how profitable a property is. This is why it’s deemed one of the more important ROI calculations by real estate investors. It can also be used as a forecasting tool to set a target for projected earnings and expenses.
To calculate the cash-on-cash return, you need to know your annual cash flow before taxes and the total amount invested. To work out the annual cash flow of the property you need to calculate the total amount of expected income in one year including any additional income from the investment property, and then subtract the operating expenses, annual mortgage payments, and account for any vacancy periods.
The formula for calculating cash-on-cash return looks like this:
Cash-on-Cash Return = Net Annual Cash Flow (before tax) / Total Equity Invested
When Annual Cash Flow = Income – Operating Expenses – Vacancy Period – Mortgage Repayments
Cash-on-cash return is a measurement used by real estate investors to determine a property’s performance. It is a calculation often used for long-term investments as it focuses on cashflow, signifying whether an investment will generate adequate funds for repaying debts.
Although there is no rule of thumb, investors seem to agree that a good cash-on-cash return is between 8 to 12 percent.
Equity Invested
Cash flow
Making an annual net cash flow of: 36,000 -1,800 – 4,200 – 7,200 = 22800
Cash-on-cash return = $22,800/ $80,000
= 28.5%
In addition to deriving the current return, the cash-on-cash return can also be used to forecast the expected future cash distributions of an investment. However, it is not a promised return but is instead a target used to assess a potential investment. In this way, the cash-on-cash return is an estimate of what an investor may receive over the life of the investment.