All glossary terms

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Definition

The rent-to-price ratio (a gross rental yield) expresses annual rent as a percentage of a home’s value. It approximates the income return a rental property generates before expenses, financing, and vacancy.

Formula

(Monthly rent × 12) / home value × 100

How to interpret it

Roughly, 3–5% points to an appreciation-driven buy market, 6–8% is balanced, and above 8% signals a cash-flow-oriented rental market. Investors chasing monthly income favor higher ratios; those betting on price growth often accept lower ones.

See rent-to-price ratio for any state, metro, county, or ZIP code in the Reatlas Market Explorer.

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Related terms

Source: Reatlas analysis of U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS), Realtor.com, and Zillow market data.