What is a healthy cap rate?

Asked by: Sarai Bernhard  |  Last update: July 23, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (65 votes)

Average cap rates range from 4% to 10%. Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk. A cap rate above 7% may be perceived as a riskier investment, whereas a cap rate below 5% may be seen as a safer bet.

Is a 4% cap rate good?

A “good cap” rate for a rental property is commonly between 5% and 10%. The cap rate is important because it helps investors see how much money they could make from the property. However, in some locations, even 4% – 5% can be considered good.

What does a 7.5% cap rate mean?

A 7.5% cap rate means the investment property will generate a net operating income which equates to 7.5% of the property's value. For example: A $300,000 property with a 7.5% cap rate would generate a net operating income of $22,500.

What is the 2% rule for cap rates?

The 2% rule states that a rental property is likely to yield a positive cash flow if the monthly rental income is 2% or more of the home's purchase price.

Is a 6% cap rate good?

In real estate, a low (less than 5%) cap rate often reflects a lower risk profile, whereas a higher cap rate (greater than 7%) is often considered a riskier investment. Whether an investor deems a cap rate “good” is a direct reflection of whether or not they think the investment's return matches its perceived risk.

How to Analyze Real Estate Rental Properties: Capitalization Rate Explained

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Is 5% cap rate bad?

It depends largely on your local market. For example, a 5% cap rate may be the norm in high-demand areas such as in and around large metropolitan areas and high-cost areas like Manhattan or San Francisco. The cap rate for Class A office buildings also depends on which asset class you're considering.

What is a good IRR for rental property?

Real estate investments often target an IRR in the range of 10% to 20%. However, these numbers can vary: Conservative Investments: For lower-risk, stable properties, a good IRR might be around 8% to 12%.

What is the 50% rule in real estate?

The 50% rule or 50 rule in real estate says that half of the gross income generated by a rental property should be allocated to operating expenses when determining profitability. The rule is designed to help investors avoid the mistake of underestimating expenses and overestimating profits.

How do I lower my cap rate?

Increase Net Operating Income (NOI): The NOI is the annual revenue generated by the property minus the operating expenses. If you can increase your rental income, reduce vacancies, or decrease operating expenses, you will increase your NOI, and therefore potentially reduce your exit cap rate.

What is the Airbnb cap rate?

An Airbnb cap rate is a metric to evaluate the attractiveness of an investment, and can be applied to a potential STR property. It is the ratio of the property's net annual rental operating income to its purchase price.

What is the rule of thumb for cap rate?

In general, the higher that cap rate the better, but you need to be careful. An unusually high cap rate can be a red flag and will likely warrant further scrutiny of the property and it's accounting records. As a general rule of thumb you want to be between 5% and 12%.

What is the cap rate if a building sells for $5000000 with an NOI of $900000?

Final answer:

The cap rate of a building that sells for $5,000,000 with an NOI of $900,000 is 18%.

What is a normal cap rate in real estate?

Average cap rates range from 4% to 10%. Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk. A cap rate above 7% may be perceived as a riskier investment, whereas a cap rate below 5% may be seen as a safer bet.

Do I want a high cap rate?

It's generally better to have a lower cap rate than a higher one. A lower cap rate implies that the property is more valuable and less risky due to type, class, and market. While a higher cap rate offers investors a higher return, that property investment typically has a higher risk profile.

What does noi mean?

Net operating income, or NOI, measures the profitability of an asset or an investment after subtracting operating expenses from income. It's often used in the commercial real estate industry to determine the profitability of investment properties such as office buildings, apartment complexes, or warehouses.

What is a good cash on cash return in real estate?

A: It depends on the investor, the local market, and your expectations of future value appreciation. Some real estate investors are happy with a safe and predictable CoC return of 7% – 10%, while others will only consider a property with a cash-on-cash return of at least 15%.

Why do sellers want a lower cap rate?

Generally, a high capitalization rate will indicate a higher level of risk, while a lower capitalization rate indicates lower returns but lower risk.

What is a bad cap rate?

Conversely, a “bad” cap rate is anything above or below 5% and 10%. High cap rates could mean the property has maintenance issues or it's in an area with low rent prices. A cap rate below 5% might indicate an oversupply of properties for sale, which can lead to lower rent payments and high vacancy rates.

Should cap rate be higher than mortgage rate?

The cap rate 2% rule is a simple guide that some real estate investors follow to decide if a property is worth exploring. It says that the property's cap rate should be about 2% higher than the current mortgage rate.

What is the 7 year rule for investments?

The 7-Year Rule suggests that investors should commit to holding their investments for at least seven years. This period allows you to ride out market volatility and increases the likelihood of recovering from downturns.

What are the 5 golden rules of real estate?

If you follow these 5 Golden Rules for Property investing i.e. Buy from motivated sellers; Buy in an area of strong rental demand; Buy for positive cash-flow; Buy for the long-term; Always have a cash buffer. You will minimise the risk of property investing and maximise your returns.

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 a good ROI on rental property?

While what constitutes a 'good' rate can vary depending on an individual's investment strategy, location, and market conditions, generally, a return between 6% and 8% is considered decent, while a return of 10% or more is viewed as excellent.

What is a good IRR for 7 years?

For levered deals, commercial real estate investors today are generally targeting IRR values somewhere between about 7% and 20% for those same five to ten year hold periods, with lower risk-deals with a longer projected hold period also on the lower end of the spectrum, and higher-risk deals with a shorter projected ...

Is 30% IRR too high?

What's a Good IRR in Venture? According to research by Industry Ventures on historical venture returns, GPs should target an IRR of at least 30% when investing at the seed stage. Industry Ventures suggests targeting an IRR of 20% for later stages, given that those investments are generally less risky.