1% Rule Calculator

The 1% rule is a 10-second screen: monthly rent should be at least 1% of the purchase price for the numbers to have a chance of working. It fails in expensive metros and passes in many affordable ones — this checker shows exactly where a deal stands.

Inputs

Purchase price ($)Expected monthly rent, all units ($)

Result

Rent-to-price ratio–

Rent needed to hit 1%–

This is a screening rule of thumb, not underwriting. Before an offer, run the full month-by-month math in the house hacking calculator or the 6-step checklist.

More free VanToVault tools: House Hacking Calculator · Rent vs. Buy · BRRRR · FIRE Projector · Rent Comps

Get the free $0-to-First-Property Roadmap

The five-stage plan I used to go from living in a van to owning a duplex — no rich parents required. Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox.

Go further

The First-Property Bundle

Playbook, deal-analyzer toolkit, and down-payment-assistance finder. Pay what you want.

Get the bundle →

Free download

The $0-to-First-Property Roadmap

The five-stage plan I followed from the van years to a duplex.