What Is a Good Cap Rate for Single Family Homes?

Making money in real estate requires an understanding of various metrics and data analytics. In fact, real estate investors who don’t incorporate this into their investment property analysis are less likely to meet their investment goals. One of the most important of these metrics is the capitalization rate or cap rate. This is simply the annual rate of return that an investment property is expected to generate. This financial metric helps real estate investors assess the profitability of an income property and determine whether it is overpriced or not. In this article, we will focus on the cap rate for single family homes and reveal the ideal rate for these investment properties.

The Basics of Cap Rate in Real Estate

The underlying mechanisms of cap rate in real estate investing are fairly similar to their counterparts in other sectors. Regardless of the type of asset that you’re investing in, the cap rate is the metric you turn to when you want to determine your expected returns relative to every dollar you put in to acquire the asset. In simple terms, the cap rate for single family homes is merely the ratio of income over cost.

The Cap Rate Formula 

Calculating the cap rate for single family homes is quite simple. You simply divide the net operating income that the rental property generates by its market value. The ratio is expressed as a percentage. Here is an example that illustrates how to calculate the cap rate.

Example: If a rental property generates a net operating income of $100,000 and has a market value of $1,000,000, the cap rate is:

$100,000/$1,000,000= 10%

Using the Cap Rate Calculator

A more convenient and practical way to determine the cap rate for single family homes is to simply use a cap rate calculator. Using a dedicated tool will save you both time and effort when it comes to calculating cap rates. A good example of this is the Mashvisor cap rate calculator. This highly effective tool can provide cap rates by city and allows you to calculate individual rental property cap rates in an instant. Needless to say, anyone planning on investing in single family homes should consider using the cap rate calculator.

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Now that you are familiar with the basics of the cap rate, you are probably asking yourself the following questions: What exactly is a good cap rate for single family homes? And what are the factors that affect it? The next section will answer these questions in detail.

Learn More: Where Can You Find Reliable Cap Rates for Single Family Homes? 

Good Cap Rates for Single Family Homes: The Factors That Influence It

As it is the case with most aspects of real estate investing, the ideal cap rate depends on many variables. More notably, good cap rates for buyers and sellers are geometrically opposed. Buyers tend to look for higher cap rates as that would signify that the cost of acquisition is low relative to the expected rental income. On the other hand, sellers prefer a low cap rate because the value of their property will be higher. The type of property, as well as the investor’s own preference and real estate investment strategy, are also consequential factors when it comes to determining the ideal cap rate. Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the other factors that influence cap rates.

1- The location of the rental property

Location is everything in real estate. In the case of the cap rate for single family homes, the dynamics in different markets have an immense effect on a property’s upside. Locations vary in terms of the level of demand, employment rate, and median house income among many other economic fundamentals. Take a look at the Nashville real estate market vs. the Gatlinburg real estate market. Both are located in Tennessee, but Gatlinburg has an average cap rate of 2.46% for single family homes while Nashville has a cap rate of 0.46%. Consequently, real estate investors will tolerate low cap rates in major markets and avoid high rates in locations they perceive to be risky or lacking in solid fundamentals.

Related: How to Choose the Right Location for Rental Properties 

2- Interest rates

Interest rates are another huge factor that is worth considering when looking at cap rates. The reality is that debt is a major driving force in real estate investments, so it’s only natural that interest rates will influence a wide range of metrics. Cap rates, in particular, can shift significantly depending on the interest rate environment. When the cost of borrowing is low, cap rates tend to drop as well.

What Is the Ideal Cap Rate Range?  

In most real estate markets, the ideal cap rate range tends to be between 8% to 12%. In certain strong single family markets, the range is 4% to 6%. So what is a good cap rate for rental properties? Generally speaking, going for a property with a cap rate of around 10% is a wise move. In this case, you will be able to recover the totality of your investment within 10 years. This is an ideal rate if you are planning on implementing a long-term rental strategy.

Related: Forget Everything You’ve Heard About What Is a Good Cap Rate

When Is the Cap Rate for Single Family Homes Not Applicable?

In certain cases, calculating the cap rate for single family homes is not very useful. Here are a few examples.

• Fix and flip: This is a real estate investment strategy that aims to generate a quick profit from the sale of the property. Consequently, figuring out the cap rate is not needed since the investor is not looking to profit from rental income.
• Vacant rental properties: While it is possible to estimate the cap rate of a vacant property, it is far from a reliable approach. The formula depends on the property’s net income, and with zero rental income, you will have to rely on rough projections and estimates.

The Bottom Line

Determining the cap rate for single family homes can be a great profitability assessment tool for investors. Incorporating it into your investment property analysis will go a long way in ensuring the success of your venture.