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Investor Glossary
1 min read

Return On Investment

Return on investment (ROI) is a financial metric that measures the approximate profitability of an investment.

In this article:
  1. The Calculation
  2. Understanding the ROI Metric
  3. Related Questions
  4. Get Financing
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Return on investment (ROI) is a financial metric that measures the approximate profitability of an investment. ROI is a ratio (though often represented as a percentage) that juxtaposes an investor's gain or loss from an investment in relation to its cost. The metric is also heavily used for evaluating the potential return an investment may make in comparison with returns from alternative investments.

ROI and other important cash flow metrics like internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV)  are often used in business analysis to evaluate the attractiveness of a number of different investment alternatives.

The Calculation

ROI has many applications, and two different methods of being calculated:

Method One:

Method Two:

Where:

  • FV - Final Value of the Investment

  • IV - Initial Value of the Investment

  • Understanding the ROI Metric

    If the result of an ROI calculation emerges as a positive, that indicates that the total value of returns exceeded the total costs — meaning net returns are in the black. Alternatively, if the result is a negative figure, it indicates that the total costs exceeded the total returns — meaning net returns are in the red.

    Related Questions

    What is the definition of return on investment (ROI)?

    Return on Investment (ROI) is a measurement of how much money an investor receives from an investment after all expenses have been deducted. The formula for ROI is:

    ROI = (Investment Gain - Investment Cost)/Cost of Investment

    Many factors affect the ROI of a commercial real estate investment, including the size of any commercial real estate loans on the property, the interest rate of those loans, as well as any management, repair, or renovation expenses needed to maintain or upgrade the property.

    What are the different types of ROI?

    The two most common ways to calculate return on investment (ROI) in commercial real estate are the cost method and the out-of-pocket method.

    The cost method is calculated by taking the total cost of the investment (including any loan payments, closing costs, and other expenses) and subtracting it from the total return (including any rental income, capital gains, and other income). The result is the net return on investment.

    The out-of-pocket method is calculated by taking the total out-of-pocket expenses (including any loan payments, closing costs, and other expenses) and subtracting it from the total return (including any rental income, capital gains, and other income). The result is the net return on investment.

    In addition to these two methods, investors can also look at a property’s cash on cash returns, its cap rate, or even its gross rent multiplier (GRM) to determine ROI.

    How is ROI calculated?

    Return on Investment (ROI) is typically calculated using either the cost method or the out-of-pocket method. The cost method takes the existing equity in a property and divides it by the costs of purchasing and owning that property. For example, if an investor purchased a property for $1 million, and invested $300,000 in renovations, and the property is now worth $2 million, the investor would have $700,000 of equity in the property ($2 million -($1 million + $300,000). As a result, we get an ROI of $700,000/$1,300,000 = 53.8%.

    The out-of-pocket method takes into account the existing debt on the property, as well as any income that may have been received if the property was partially rented out during the rehab period. This method is more complex, and requires more information to calculate.

    For more information, please visit Return on Investment in Commercial Real Estate.

    What are the benefits of a high ROI?

    The benefits of a high ROI are that it indicates a higher return on the investment, which can be beneficial for investors. A high ROI can also indicate that the investment is a good one, as it is likely to generate more income than other investments. Additionally, a high ROI can also indicate that the investment is a low-risk one, as it is likely to generate more income than other investments with a lower risk.

    For more information on ROI, please see Return on Investment in Commercial Real Estate and Investment Variables in Commercial Real Estate.

    What are the risks associated with a low ROI?

    The risks associated with a low ROI are that the owner may be liable to make principal and interest payments or even, at some point, pay back the entire loan prematurely if the projected net operating income decreased substantially. This is why it is important to study the investment thoroughly prior to making any decision, taking into account income taxes, possible risks, the amount of money to be borrowed, and the various financing alternatives available. Source and Source.

    What strategies can be used to maximize ROI?

    Improving the return on investment (ROI) of your multifamily property is an important part of most investment strategies. To do this, you need to ensure that you are making the most of your income potential. Strategies to maximize ROI include:

    • Finding ways to save on expenses
    • Boosting resident retention
    • Increasing rent
    • Finding efficiencies
    • Making residents feel at home

    ROI can also be determined in a variety of other ways, including by looking at a property’s cash on cash returns, its cap rate, or even its gross rent multiplier (GRM). In general, most commercial investors prefer a cash on cash return of at least 12%, although this can vary based on the risk of an individual investment. Likewise, acceptable cap rates and gross rent multipliers also vary greatly based on the specifics of an individual investment property.

In this article:
  1. The Calculation
  2. Understanding the ROI Metric
  3. Related Questions
  4. Get Financing

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