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Short-Term Rental Calculator

A nightly rate is not income until you multiply it by the nights nobody books. See an Airbnb or VRBO against platform fees, cleaning, co-hosting and furnishing, and the occupancy you need to break even.

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This deal works

This works as a short-term rental, with room in the occupancy assumption.

$827
per month at 65% occupancy, after the platform's cut, cleaning, and reserves
What breaks it

This works if occupancy reaches 51.7%. You have assumed 65%, so you have 13 points of room. Occupancy is the number hosts overestimate most.

The numbers behind it

Cap rate9.2%

The return if you paid cash, ignoring the loan. It lets you compare properties at different prices. Above about 6% is healthy, under 4% means the price is outrunning the income. The CapEx reserve and management come out first, so this reads lower than a cap rate quoted on a listing, which usually leaves both in.

Cash-on-cash return9.4%

Your yearly profit measured against the cash you actually put in. 8% or better is the usual bar for a rental worth owning.

Revenue per available night$198

Revenue per available night: the nightly rate you actually earn once empty nights are counted. It is the honest version of the rate you advertise.

Example: a $350,000 property let at $305 a night, 65% full.