What does the 1% rule mean?

Asked by: Estell Legros  |  Last update: November 29, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (39 votes)

The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of an investment property against the gross income it can generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price.

How does the 1% rule work?

The 1% rule states that a rental property's income should be at least 1% of the property's purchase price. For example, if a rental property is purchased for $200,000, the monthly rental income should be at least $2,000.

What is the rule of 1%?

How the One Percent Rule Works. This simple calculation multiplies the purchase price of the property plus any necessary repairs by 1%. The result is a base level of monthly rent. It's also compared to the potential monthly mortgage payment to give the owner a better understanding of the property's monthly cash flow.

Does the 1% rule still exist?

In 2024, real estate investors are increasingly focusing on markets with strong appreciation potential rather than adhering to the outdated 1% rule. While cash flow remains an important factor in investment decisions, it is no longer the primary driver for many investors.

What is the 1% maintenance rule?

When it comes to property maintenance, the 1% rule applies. This rule states you should save 1% of the property purchase price for maintenance issues. Using the same example from above, if you purchase a property for $250,000, you should budget $2,500 a year for maintenance and upkeep.

The One Percent Rule - Quick Math For Positive Cash Flow Rental Properties

28 related questions found

What is the 1 percent rule in life?

The 1 Percent Rule states that over time the majority of the rewards in a given field will accumulate to the people, teams, and organizations that maintain a 1 percent advantage over the alternatives. You don't need to be twice as good to get twice the results. You just need to be slightly better.

What is the 1% lease rule?

What's the One-Percent Rule? The concept is pretty simple, you take the vehicle's monthly lease payment and divide it by the vehicle MSPR (before taxes and fees). The closer the result is to one percent (1.00%), the better the lease offer.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the 1% rule?

Landlords use these rules because they're easy to calculate, provide a rudimentary benchmark for expected rental income, and can help identify undervalued properties. That said, investors should be cautious and consider other important factors when determining whether to purchase a property.

What are the three pillars of investment?

The 3 Pillars of Successful Investing
  • Planning – Building a strong foundation.
  • Processes – Plans need to be implemented.
  • Products – Planting the right seeds.

What is the 4 3 2 1 rule in real estate?

Analyzing the 4-3-2-1 Rule in Real Estate

This rule outlines the ideal financial outcomes for a rental property. It suggests that for every rental property, investors should aim for a minimum of 4 properties to achieve financial stability, 3 of those properties should be debt-free, generating consistent income.

What is the 1% theory?

James Clear's book, “Atomic Habits,” delves into the 1% theory, highlighting how consistent daily improvements can lead to exponential growth. He proposes that improving yourself by 1% each day for a year results in a staggering 37x improvement by year's end. Conversely, a 1% daily decline yields near-zero outcomes.

What is the 1% rule in habits?

Here's the punchline: If you get one percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done. This is why small choices don't make much of a difference at the time, but add up over the long-term.

What is the 80-20 rule?

The 80-20 rule is a principle that states 80% of all outcomes are derived from 20% of causes. It's used to determine the factors (typically, in a business situation) that are most responsible for success and then focus on them to improve results.

What is an example of the 1 percent rule?

Examples Of The 1% Rule

Let's say you need to make about $10,000 in repairs before renting the home. Add the cost of repairs to the home's purchase price for a total of $160,000. Then multiply the total by 1%. You'll get a $1,600 minimum monthly rental rate.

How much profit should you make on rental property?

In addition to this, you may be able to use the cash flow to pay down any mortgages while also generating equity. Keep in mind, when it comes to real estate cash flow, calculating your expenses and rental property income will be your number one key to success. Anything around 7% or 8% is the average ROI.

How to calculate 1% rule?

To calculate monthly rent using the 1 percent rule, simply multiply the home's purchase price by 1 percent. If repairs are needed, add the repair costs in with the purchase price. For example, let's say you're looking at a duplex home listed at $250,000 that's in good condition and doesn't need any immediate repairs.

What are the three rules of wealth building?

Basically, to accumulate wealth over time, you need to do just three things: (1) Make money, (2) save money, and (3) invest money.

What are the 3 investment theories?

There are three important theories of investment: (i) neoclassical theory, (ii) accelerator theory, and (iii) q-theory. The neoclassical theory, developed mostly by Dale W. Jorgenson, helps in determination of output and prices through optimal capital stock in an economy.

What are the three pillars of ESG?

ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. These are called pillars in ESG frameworks and represent the 3 main topic areas that companies are expected to report in.

Is the 1% rule realistic?

The 1% rule isn't foolproof, but it can be a good tool to help you whether a rental property is a good investment. As a general rule of thumb, it should be used as an initial prescreening tool to help you narrow down your list of options.

What is the 0.01% rule?

One of the best things I ever did for my financial mental health was not care about purchases below 0.01% (1/10,000th) of my net worth. So, if you have $10k, you shouldn't think twice about spending $1. If you have $100k, don't worry about $10, etc. I call this the 0.01% Rule.

What is the Brrrr method?

BRRRR stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, and Repeat. This real estate investment strategy focuses on buying, renovating, renting and refinancing distressed and poorly maintained properties to allow further investments in property.

What is a good money factor?

But, if you have fantastic credit and you're offered a lease with a money factor higher than 0.0025 then it may be worth your time to shop around – a lease rate of less than 6% is usually offered to those with top-tier credit.

What is the 90% lease rule?

The 90% rule is one of the criteria used to classify leases as operating or finance. If the present value of future lease payment is substantially all, or 90% of the fair value of the leased asset, then the lease is not an operating lease.

What is the rule of 78 in leasing?

The “Rule of 78” is a method used by banks and finance companies to break down the principal and interest in the monthly repayment of an instalment loan. Under this rule, the proportion of interest in the monthly payments decreases over the course of the loan period.