1. What is net operating income (NOI)?
Net operating income is the annual income a property generates after operating expenses but before mortgage payments and income taxes. It is a key indicator of a property’s profitability and is used to calculate cap rate.
2. What expenses are included in NOI?
Operating expenses include property taxes, insurance, maintenance, property management fees, utilities, repairs, and other costs to run the property. Mortgage payments and capital expenditures are not included.
3. What expenses are excluded from NOI?
Excluded expenses include mortgage payments (interest and principal), income taxes, depreciation, and capital expenditures (major improvements). These are financing and tax-related, not operating costs.
4. What is the difference between NOI and cash flow?
NOI is income after operating expenses before debt service. Cash flow is NOI minus mortgage payments. Cash flow represents the actual cash you receive after paying the mortgage.
5. What is a good NOI?
A good NOI depends on the property type and market. Generally, positive NOI indicates profitability. A higher NOI means higher property value and potential returns. Compare NOI to similar properties in your market.
6. How is NOI used in real estate valuation?
NOI is used to calculate cap rate and property value. Property value = NOI ÷ Cap Rate. A higher NOI increases property value at the same cap rate.
7. What is vacancy rate and why does it matter?
Vacancy rate is the percentage of time a property is vacant. It affects effective gross income. A higher vacancy rate reduces income and NOI. This calculator includes vacancy in the calculation.
8. Is NOI before or after taxes?
NOI is before income taxes. Taxes are excluded from NOI because they vary by owner. NOI measures the property’s operational performance independent of the owner’s tax situation.