Run the numbers on any Alberta investment property. See gross yield, cap rate, cash-on-cash return, and monthly cash flow - all in one place.
Gross Yield - The simplest measure of return. It divides annual gross rent by the purchase price to give you a quick snapshot of how much income the property generates relative to its cost. It does not account for expenses, so use it for quick comparisons between properties rather than as a final decision metric.
Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate) - Net operating income divided by the purchase price. This removes the effect of financing and gives you a property-level return that you can compare across different properties regardless of how they are financed. A higher cap rate generally means higher return but may also reflect higher risk.
Cash-on-Cash Return - This is the metric most investors care about. It measures annual cash flow against the actual cash you invested (your down payment). A 10% cash-on-cash return means you are earning $10 per year for every $100 you put in. This accounts for financing, so it reflects your real-world returns more accurately than cap rate alone.
Monthly Cash Flow - The amount left over each month after all expenses and mortgage payments are covered. Positive cash flow means the property pays for itself and puts money in your pocket. Negative cash flow means you are subsidizing the property each month out of your own funds.
Net Operating Income (NOI) - Total rental income minus all operating expenses, before mortgage payments. This is the income the property generates from operations alone. Lenders and appraisers use NOI to evaluate a property's value independent of financing.
Principal Paydown - Each mortgage payment includes both interest and principal. The principal portion builds your equity in the property. This is a real financial return even though it does not show up as cash in your pocket until you sell or refinance.
Total ROI - Combines your cash flow and principal paydown to show the full picture of your annual return on invested capital. This is the most complete measure of how your investment is performing.