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Rental Cash Flow Calculator

See your real monthly profit on a rental — after expenses and the mortgage. Enter three numbers to get monthly and annual cash flow.

Cash flow = rent − operating expenses − mortgage payment. Positive cash flow means the property pays for itself each month.

Why cash flow matters

Cash flow is the money left in your pocket each month after every cost. A property can show a strong yield on paper but still be cash-flow negative once the mortgage is included. Positive monthly cash flow is what makes a rental sustainable long term.

Worked example

Rent comes in at $1,900/month. Monthly expenses (insurance, tax, maintenance reserve, management) total $520, and the mortgage payment is $1,180. Cash flow = $1,900 − $520 − $1,180 = $200/month, or $2,400/year — modest but positive. If a vacancy month or a surprise repair briefly wiped that out, the property would need only a small rent increase (about 3-4%) to rebuild a comfortable buffer, which is why many investors prefer properties with $200-400/month of margin rather than breaking even exactly.

FAQ

What is positive cash flow?

When rent exceeds your expenses plus mortgage, the property generates surplus cash each month — positive cash flow.

What counts as a monthly expense?

Insurance, property management, maintenance reserves, property tax, HOA/service charges, and any utilities you pay. Don't double-count the mortgage.

How can I improve cash flow?

Reduce vacancy, review expenses annually, refinance if rates drop, or adjust rent within local legal limits — check the rent increase laws page for your country.

Know your cash flow automatically

RentFlow totals rent and expenses per property so your monthly cash flow updates itself. Free to start.

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