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Real Estate MathCap Rate

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate)

The capitalization rate (Cap Rate) is the rate of return on a real estate investment based on its expected income.

Understanding Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate)

The Cap Rate is calculated by dividing the property's Net Operating Income (NOI) by its current market value or purchase price. It represents the potential rate of return an investor can expect to receive on their investment if they purchased the property with cash and reflects the risk associated with the investment. A higher cap rate generally indicates a higher potential return but also a higher risk.

Real-World Example

A property valued at $500,000 generates an NOI of $50,000. The cap rate is $50,000 / $500,000 = 0.10 or 10%.

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How This Appears on the Exam

Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate) is tested in the Real Estate Math section of the real estate exam. Questions typically present a scenario and ask you to apply the concept. Here are examples of how exam questions are phrased:

1

An investment property has a net operating income of $36,000 and a cap rate of 8%. What is the property value?

Practice with all 1 related questions below to build confidence in this topic area.

Exam Tips

Cap Rate is a percentage, so remember to convert decimals to percentages. A higher cap rate suggests a higher risk or a lower property value for the same income.

Related Terms

Rate of ReturnRiskInvestment Property

Practice Questions

Related Concepts

Converting a percentage to a decimal involves dividing the percentage value by 100.

IRV stands for Income, Rate, and Value. It represents the relationship between Net Operating Income (I), Capitalization Rate (R), and Property Value (V).

Net Operating Income (NOI) is the revenue a property generates after deducting all operating expenses.

The gross rent multiplier (GRM) is a quick method for estimating the value of income-producing property by multiplying the property's gross rent by a factor derived from comparable sales. GRM = Sale Price / Gross Rent.

The capitalization rate (cap rate) is the ratio of a property's net operating income to its sale price, expressed as a percentage. It is used to estimate value and compare profitability of investment properties. Cap Rate = NOI / Value.

Frequently Asked Questions

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