Real Estate Glossary

30+ essential real estate investing terms explained with formulas, examples, and how Richify helps you track each one.

30+ Terms5 CategoriesFree
📊

Cap Rate

metrics

A property's annual net operating income as a percentage of its purchase price.

💰

Cash-on-Cash Return

metrics

The annual cash flow earned on the actual cash invested in a property.

📈

Net Operating Income (NOI)

metrics

Annual rental income minus operating expenses, before mortgage payments.

🏦

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

financing

The ratio of net operating income to annual debt payments.

🔢

Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM)

metrics

The ratio of property price to annual gross rental income.

📐

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

metrics

The annualized return rate that accounts for all cash flows over a property's holding period.

🔄

1031 Exchange

tax

A US tax provision allowing investors to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting sale proceeds into a like-kind property.

📉

Depreciation

tax

A tax deduction that lets real estate investors write off the wear and tear of an income-producing property over time.

⚖️

Negative Gearing

tax

A strategy where an investor accepts short-term losses on a rental property in exchange for tax benefits and long-term appreciation.

💳

Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)

financing

The ratio of a property's loan amount to its appraised value or purchase price.

🏚️

Vacancy Rate

operations

The percentage of time a rental property sits empty without a tenant generating income.

📊

Capitalization Rate

valuation

Another name for cap rate — a property's annual NOI as a percentage of its value.

🏘️

Price-to-Rent Ratio

valuation

The ratio of a property's purchase price to its annual rental income.

📈

Rental Yield

metrics

The annual rental income from a property expressed as a percentage of its value.

🏗️

Equity Buildup

financing

The growth in your ownership stake in a property as you pay down the mortgage.

💵

Cash Flow

metrics

The net cash a rental property generates after all expenses including mortgage payments.

📈

Appreciation

metrics

The increase in a property's market value over time.

🏷️

Property Valuation

valuation

The process of determining a property's market value using one or more standardized methods.

📋

Amortization

financing

The process of paying off a loan through regular payments that gradually reduce the principal.

⚖️

Break-Even Ratio

metrics

The percentage of gross rental income needed to cover all operating expenses and debt service.

📊

Operating Expense Ratio

metrics

The percentage of gross rental income consumed by operating expenses.

🏢

Cost Per Unit

valuation

The total cost of acquiring a multi-family property divided by the number of rental units.

📜

Rent Roll

operations

A document listing all current tenants, their rent amounts, lease terms, and payment status.

🏬

Triple Net Lease (NNN)

operations

A commercial lease structure where the tenant pays property taxes, insurance, and maintenance on top of rent.

🔧

Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

operations

Major one-time expenses that improve or extend the useful life of a property.

🚚

Turnover Cost

operations

The expenses incurred when a tenant moves out and a new tenant must be found and placed.

📉

Absorption Rate

valuation

The pace at which available rental units or properties are leased or sold in a market.

📅

Days on Market (DOM)

valuation

The number of days a property is listed for sale or rent before being sold or leased.

🏠

Comparable Sales (Comps)

valuation

Recent sales of similar properties used to estimate a target property's market value.

🛠️

After Repair Value (ARV)

valuation

The estimated market value of a property after planned renovations and repairs are completed.

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