Real estate investments are often a great source of passive income and long-term wealth generation. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine when your commercial real estate (CRE) investment is paying off. There are a variety of factors to consider, such as rental income, occupancy rates, and property appreciation.
Key Metrics to Determine the Success of Your CRE Investment
These are some metrics to keep track of that will help you evaluate the success of your investment.
1. Cash Flow – The most basic metric to evaluate the success of your CRE investment is cash flow. Cash flow is the amount of money that is left over after all expenses have been paid, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, and management fees. Positive cash flow indicates the property is generating more income than it is costing to maintain and operate.
2. Occupancy Rates – Another important metric to evaluate the success of your CRE investment is occupancy rates. The occupancy rate is the percentage of the property that is currently leased out. If your property’s rate is high, it means that you are generating a steady stream of rental income, which is a good sign for the long-term success of your investment.
3. Appreciation – The value of commercial real estate can appreciate over time, meaning that the property is worth more than what you paid for it. This appreciation can be due to a variety of factors, such as improvements made to the property, changes in the local real estate market, or the overall growth of the economy.
4. Return on Investment (ROI) – One of the most important metrics to evaluate the success of your CRE investment is your return on investment (ROI). ROI is a measure of the profit you have made on your investment, expressed as a percentage of the amount of money you invested.
To calculate your ROI, you need to take into account all of the costs associated with the property, including the purchase price, closing costs, renovations, and ongoing expenses. You can then subtract these costs from the income generated by the property, including rental income, tax benefits, and any other income sources. The resulting figure is your profit, which you can divide by your initial investment to get your ROI.
5. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) – The debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is a measure of the property’s ability to generate enough cash flow to cover its debt payments. DSCR is calculated by dividing the property’s net operating income (NOI) by its annual debt service. A DSCR of 1.0 indicates that the property’s cash flow is just enough to cover its debt payments, while a DSCR above 1.0 indicates that the property is generating more than enough cash flow to cover its debt payments.
Lenders typically look for a DSCR of at least 1.25, which indicates that the property is generating 25% more cash flow than needed.
It’s important to remember that real estate investing is a long-term strategy, and success is not always immediate. It may take several years for your investment to pay off, but by carefully monitoring these metrics and making adjustments as needed, you can position yourself for long-term success and wealth generation.
Plaza Companies is the Premier Choice of Commercial Real Estate
Plaza Companies is a full-service real estate firm specializing in the leasing, management, construction, and development of some of the most innovative commercial real estate projects in Arizona. Our firm specializes in staying connected and conscientious of all emerging trends in commercial real estate. Contact us today to learn more about leasing the right space or anything else we offer!