I take a picture to calculate water usage for the building/occupant.

Meaning if you expect the new water heater to last 8 years and it cost $1,200 to purchase and install then it cost you $12.50 per month on average and that's the number you should use when calculating monthly cash flow.Being hit with a lot of capex early on when you own a rental can have an impact on your reserves for sure, but the nice thing is once they're done you should have X years before the same expense comes up again.

In this post, I will explain why and show you how to obtain the accuracy you require.How Online Sites Estimate RentOnline sites like Rentometer and Zillow calculate the average rent per square foot ($/SF) for a specific area based on the number of bedrooms.

or is it calculated differently entirely?

Generally, the spread to account for the higher risk has historically been around 170 basis points (or 1.7%); however, in the last few years, this has ballooned to around 300 basis points (or 3%) amidst lots of volatility.Without delving too much deeper into the math and financial fixed-income calculations, mortgage bonds generally have yields or returns based on the main alternative for note investors, which are U.S.

That assumes you know how to calculate expenses properly.

So, as you can calculate, the average check size is about $1mm.  

By their calculations, I am averaging 3.5% per year from rental income for the entire portfolio.

Appreciation and cash flow make up part of the calculation of the Internal Rate of Return (also including depreciation benefit and amortization of the loan).  

The maximum amount of the energy package that can be added to the borrower’s regular FHA loan amount is the lesser of:· A cost-effective improvements to be made (energy package) based on the home energy assessment; or· the lesser of 5 percent of:the Adjusted Value;115 percent of the median area price of a Single Family dwelling; or150 percent of the national conforming mortgage limit.An FHA-approved lender can access FHA’s EEM Calculator to determine the dollar maximum amount that a borrower can finance for energy improvements.