1. Confirm What You Are Buying
Choose a residential listing in Find Properties, or enter a known address in Rental Analysis. Recognized listing types open directly at Property & Income. Review the address, beds, baths, size, and advertised price; provider records and listings can be incomplete or outdated.
For a duplex or a home with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), confirm which dwelling each figure describes. Use the dwelling schedule to record each rent once. A provider's unit count does not establish permit status or rental approval.
2. Research A Realistic Rent
Use Look Up Property, review the available estimates and comparable rentals, and choose which values to apply. Select All is a convenience, not a substitute for checking each field. Comparable advertised rents may differ from signed leases.
Compare location, condition, size, amenities, and the dwelling being rented. Keep a known verified figure when it is more appropriate than the provider estimate. A fresh lookup uses one Property Check unless the exact research is cached; changing calculations uses no Property Checks.
3. Add Financing And The Full Budget
Enter the purchase price, down payment, interest rate, and loan term you expect to obtain. Include closing costs, initial repairs, and cash reserves. A refinance is optional; use it only if it is part of your scenario.
Allow for property taxes, rental-property insurance, vacancy, management, maintenance, capital reserves, HOA dues, and owner-paid costs. Confirm who pays utilities. If your lender's payment includes escrow for taxes and insurance, separate principal and interest before entering costs to avoid double counting.
4. Test A Less Favorable Outcome
Lower the rent, allow for a longer vacancy, or raise an expense and watch how the result changes. Positive projected cash flow does not guarantee a profitable investment. Inspection findings, financing, local rules, and actual operating costs still need verification.
Save a version once you have reviewed the inputs. Each saved analysis uses one Analysis Save, and the report helps you keep a record of the assumptions you used.
A Small Change Can Matter
Illustrative monthly figures, holding all other assumptions constant. This is a sensitivity example, not a provider estimate or a property recommendation.
- Starting Cash Flow
- $300
- Rent Decreases By $200
- $100 Remaining
- Costs Also Increase By $150
- −$50 Remaining
Keep These In Mind
- Verify the listing and the dwelling being analyzed.
- Review research before applying it.
- Test income, expenses, and financing together.
Further Reading: CFPB: Understanding Your Loan Estimate. The CFPB explains mortgage payment components and closing costs. Rental and investor loan products may have different requirements; confirm your actual loan terms with your lender.
