Money & Performance
Cash-on-Cash Return
Annual cash flow divided by the cash you actually put in.
Why you care
It is the number that tells you whether the down payment would have done better somewhere else. It is also the number that looks terrible in year one and much better in year four, so judge it over a hold period.
Worked example
$4,000 of cash flow on $118,000 in (down payment, closing costs and $28,000 of furnishing) = 3.4%. That is before appreciation and before the principal your guests paid down.
Taught in Cash-on-Cash and Cap Rate