Running numbers is frustrating

[Pete Paniccia]

So, I'm obviously new. But I have been trying to run and analyze rentals for a few months now and it seems that every post I read has a different way to analyze deals. For a new investor which are the most important numbers to run and which are "nice to have"? Thanks in advance.

[Bill F.]

There is no one hard and fast rule; you need to run the expenses that apply to your property, both from a location and building perspective. The ‘basics’ are Vacancy credit, taxes, insurance, CapEx, repair, Property management (even if you will self-manage). Property specific ones are HOA, lawn care, snow removal, ect. Those are just for the property and don’t include expense to run your business, like accountant, legal, advertising. The amount you should save for CapEx, repairs, and vacancy all vary based on the condition of the property and your area.