Skip to main content
Dream Destin Realty

Investors · Calculator

Vacation Rental ROI Calculator

Enter a property's price, the rental revenue you expect and the costs you will really pay, and see net operating income, cap rate, cash flow and cash on cash return, all from your own numbers.

Rental revenue
per year

Gross bookings for a full twelve months, before any fees. A seller's rental records or a manager's written estimate are good places to start.

Purchase and loan

The price you expect to pay. The listing shows the asking price.

%

The share of the price you pay in cash.

%

The yearly interest rate on the loan.

Starts at Freddie Mac's 30-year average for the week of November 5, 2026. Use your lender's quote.

Lender, title and recording fees at purchase; your lender's loan estimate lists them.

Counted in the cash you put in.

Furniture, linens and setup to rent from the first day.

Counted in the cash you put in.

Loan term

Years to repay the loan.

Your costs
%

A manager's share of gross revenue.

Share of gross revenue. A starting assumption; use your manager's quote.

%

Money set aside each year for repairs and replacements, as a share of gross revenue.

Share of gross revenue set aside for repairs and replacements. A starting assumption.

per month

Monthly association dues. The listing or the association's budget shows them.

per month

Electricity, water, internet and streaming each month. Ask the seller for recent bills.

per year

Wind, flood and liability for a year. An insurance agent can quote the specific property.

Get a quote for the specific property.

per year

The yearly bill. The county tax collector shows the current owner's bill; yours may differ after the sale.

per year

Cleaning and supplies between stays that you pay rather than guests.

Leave at zero if guests pay the cleaning fee.

per year

Anything else you pay each year, such as pest control, pool service and rental licenses.

The whole picture
% per year

6.5% per year, the FHFA House Price Index for the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metro area, Q2 2011 to Q2 2026

%

Land is not depreciated. A starting assumption.

%

Optional. Leave empty to see the deduction only.

Your returns

What the numbers you entered produce, per year.

Enter a purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate and cash on cash return.

Get an Agent-Prepared Rental Analysis

A local agent looks at the specific property with you: its rental rules, its carrying costs and what to verify before you buy.

Request Analysis

Straight Answers

Vacation Rental ROI Questions

What is the difference between cap rate and cash on cash return?

Cap rate is the year's net operating income (rent minus operating costs, before any mortgage) divided by the purchase price, so it compares properties as if bought with cash. Cash on cash return is the cash left after the mortgage divided by the cash you actually put in: down payment, closing costs and furnishing. With a loan the two can differ widely.

Which costs should I include?

Management, a maintenance and replacement reserve, HOA or condo dues, insurance including wind and flood, property tax, utilities with internet and streaming, any cleaning you pay that guests do not, and the cash for closing and furnishing. Use real quotes for the specific property; the management fee and reserve in the calculator are only starting assumptions.

Where do I find the rental revenue to enter?

Ask the seller for twelve months of rental records or the owner statements from their manager, or ask a local manager for a written estimate for the specific property. Enter a full year of gross bookings before any fees.

Can I run the numbers on a specific listing?

Yes. Open the calculator from the listing's page and it fills in the price, dues and taxes as reported to the MLS; add the revenue and costs you expect. Property taxes on the MLS reflect the current owner, and your bill after the sale may be different.

Is this a projection of what a property will earn?

No. The calculator works only the numbers you enter. Use it to compare options and frame questions, then ask us for an agent-prepared rental analysis of the property you are considering.

This calculator is for education and comparison. Results depend entirely on the figures entered and are not a projection, estimate or guarantee of income for any property. Verify rental eligibility, costs, financing and taxes independently, and consult a lender, insurance agent and tax professional before buying.