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Cap Rate Calculator for Multifamily

Model stabilized income, operating expenses, and implied market cap rates for commercial apartment buildings.

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NOI & Cap Rate

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All units, 12 months

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Typical: 5–8%

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% of EGI

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% of gross rent

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Results

Cap Rate

7.69%

7–9% — strong cash flow

Income
Gross scheduled income
$36,000
Less vacancy loss
($1,800)
Effective gross income
$34,200
Operating expenses
Property tax
$3,600
Insurance
$1,200
Management
$2,736
Maintenance
$1,800
CapEx reserve
$1,800
Total operating expenses
$11,136
Net operating income
NOI
$23,064
Cap Rate
7.69%

Cap Rate = NOI ÷ Purchase Price. NOI excludes mortgage payments — it is a property-level metric, independent of financing. Use it to compare properties on equal footing; use cash-on-cash to evaluate levered returns.

Cap rate benchmarks by market type

Cap rate rangeMarket typeInvestor profile
3–4%Gateway cities (NYC, LA, SF)Appreciation-driven; high entry price
4–6%Primary metros (Atlanta, Phoenix, Denver)Balanced — appreciation + moderate cash flow
6–8%Secondary / tertiary markets (Cleveland, Memphis)Cash-flow-focused; lower appreciation
8%+Rural or high-vacancy marketsHigh yield — verify vacancy and exit assumptions

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How to calculate cap rate for multifamily

Cap rate expresses how much annual NOI a property produces relative to its price. For commercial multifamily (5+ units), the core formula is:

Cap Rate = NOI ÷ Property Value

To solve for value instead: Property Value = NOI ÷ Cap Rate. Always use normalized NOI—gross income minus vacancy, concessions, and operating expenses—before applying the formula.

Worked example: 48-unit garden-style apartment

A sponsor underwrites a 48-unit garden-style property in a Sun Belt market. Effective gross income is $1,152,000 after vacancy and concessions. Operating expenses total $432,000, producing NOI of $720,000. The seller asks $12,000,000.

  • Implied cap rate: $720,000 ÷ $12,000,000 = 6.0%
  • If market comps support a 5.75% cap, implied value = $720,000 ÷ 0.0575 ≈ $12.5M

Lenders may haircut revenue or stress expenses, which lowers NOI and raises the effective cap rate on their value opinion. Pair this output with the debt yield calculator and NOI normalization guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cap rate calculator used for in multifamily?
A cap rate calculator converts stabilized net operating income (NOI) and property value into an implied cap rate—or backs into value from NOI and a market cap rate. Lenders and sponsors use it to sanity-check pricing on 5+ unit apartment acquisitions and refinances.
How do you calculate cap rate?
Cap Rate = NOI ÷ Property Value. For example, $900,000 NOI on a $15,000,000 asset implies a 6.0% cap rate. Reverse the formula to estimate value: Value = NOI ÷ Cap Rate.
What NOI should I use for a cap rate calculation?
Use lender-normalized NOI: trailing T12 or T3 annualized, with nonrecurring items removed and realistic vacancy, concessions, and expense assumptions. Sponsors often model both in-place and stabilized NOI.
Is cap rate the same as cash-on-cash return?
No. Cap rate is an unlevered yield on property value. Cash-on-cash measures levered return on equity after debt service. Both matter, but lenders size debt from NOI, DSCR, and debt yield—not cap rate alone.
What cap rate range is typical for stabilized multifamily?
Ranges vary widely by market, vintage, and asset quality. Many stabilized 5+ unit assets underwrite between roughly 4.5% and 7.5%, but submarket comps and lender adjustments should drive your assumption—not a national average.
Can I use this calculator for value-add deals?
Yes. Run in-place NOI for today's pricing context and stabilized NOI for exit or refinance scenarios. Bridge lenders often underwrite both views when sizing proceeds and extension risk.
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