Buy-to-let property: How to calculate your return on investment

Owning properties can provide investors with steady rental income or capital appreciation when the property is sold for a profit. However, it is important to measure the return on investment (ROI) to determine the level of profitability of the property.

The ROI for a rental property is different depending on whether the property is financed via a home loan or paid for in cash. It is also important to bear in mind certain variables, such as if the property is vacant and there is no rental income for a number of months or maintenance costs are higher than anticipated.

Before investing in a rental property, there are a number of key factors to take into account, explains Craig Hutchison, CEO of Engel & Völkers Southern Africa.

“Location and the future of the location is the first and foremost aspect to consider when purchasing an investment property that will result in capital appreciation. The next features to take stock of are fixtures and fittings. Are they durable and will you have high maintenance costs?”

Thirdly, says Hutchison, establish if there is a demand for a particular property. "Do your homework on the area and the types of properties that are in demand. It makes more strategic sense to invest in a two bedroom unit instead of a three bedroom house if the demand for the former is greater.”

Lastly, Hutchison recommends that buyers take a five-year view as the minimum timeframe when investing. Ten years is preferable as this will generate a more valuable return on investment and should give the best capital appreciation on a well-located and maintained property.

Below is an outline of how to calculate your return on investment:

For a cash purchase
 

If an individual purchases a property outright with no bond, the profitability or ROI is calculated as follows:

If a property costs R1 million and the transfer costs, conveyancing fees, transfer duty, deeds office fee and VAT, are R30 000, the total investment is R1.03 million

Let’s say the rent collection every month is R10 000.

In 12 months’ time:

- R120 000 in rental income is earned.

- However, there are expenses including maintenance, property taxes, levies and insurance which could total R24 000 per year, or R2 000 every month.

- The annual return is R96 000 (R120 000 minus R24 000) for the year.

- The capital appreciation of the property after selling costs has increased by 3%, equalling R30 900 (R1 060 900 minus R1.03 million)

To calculate the property’s ROI:

- Divide the annual return (R96 000 + R30 900 = R126 900) by the amount of the total investment (R1.03 million)

- ROI = R126 900 ÷ R1.03 million = 0.123, or 12.3%

- ROI is 12.3%

For a bonded property
 

If the property is bonded, the profitability is worked out as follows:

On the same property for R1 million there will be added costs, including conveyancing fees, bond initiation costs, deeds office fee and VAT.

In addition to these costs, buyers should also make provision for additional charges, which can include rates and clearance certificates and prospective taxes, amongst others. These costs amount to R30 000 resulting in the total cost being R1.03 million

A down payment of R230 000 is made, and the remaining R800 000 is bonded on a 20-year loan with a fixed interest rate of 10%.

- The monthly principal and interest payment would be R7 720.17.

- Add R2 000 per month to cover maintenance, property taxes, levies and insurance, equalling R9 720.17 in expenses every month.

- With a rental income of R10 000, the owner would make R279.83 each month (rent minus bond repayment and expenses.)

One year later:

- The investor earns R120 000 in total rental income for the year at R10 000 per month.

- The annual return is R3 357.96 (R279.83 x 12 months).

- The capital appreciation of the property after selling costs has increased by 3%, thus R30 900 (R1 060 900 minus R1.03 million).

To calculate the property’s ROI:

- Divide the annual return by the original out-of-pocket expenses (the down payment of R230 000) to determine the ROI.

- ROI: (R3 357.96 + R30 900) ÷ R230 000 = 0.15

- The ROI is 15%

Things to consider
 

As demonstrated in the examples above, the ROI for a rental property is different depending on whether the property is financed via a home loan or paid for in cash. It is also important to bear in mind certain variables, such as if the property is vacant and there is no rental income for a number of months or maintenance costs are higher than anticipated.