Rental Property Down Payment Calculator
Find the down payment needed to reach your monthly cash-flow target, and see how much cash the purchase would tie up.
Free to use. No account needed.
Example shown. Adjust the assumptions
Minimum down payment for your target
28.5% $42,750
This down payment reaches $300 a month in first-year cash flow.
- Above your minimum down payment
- $12,750
- Monthly principal & interest
- $750
- Loan amount
- $107,250
Confirm the required down payment and loan terms with your lender.
Your numbers carry over. No account needed.
Save and compare with Plus. Add taxes, sale planning and scenarios.
Using the result
A larger down payment can improve monthly cash flow while tying up more cash.
More cash down, a smaller monthly payment
The calculator keeps the purchase price, rent, operating costs, note rate and loan term fixed. It reduces the loan until the cash left after expenses, reserves and principal-and-interest payments meets your target.
Required down payment = purchase price − loan amount your cash-flow target can support
The answer is rounded up to the next 0.01 percentage point and is never below the minimum you enter. If even an all-cash purchase cannot meet your target, the tool shows that instead of returning a down payment above 100%.
A larger down payment can raise cash flow while reducing the return on your cash. Actual loan pricing, mortgage insurance and fees can change at different loan-to-value levels. Check the result against a lender’s quote before deciding.
Example with these assumptions
At the example $150,000 price and $2,000 monthly rent, the entered costs and 7.5% 30-year loan require 28.5% down, or $42,750, to reach $300 a month. Closing costs and initial repairs bring total upfront cash to $58,750.
Before income tax. Verify inputs and estimates before acting. Terms & privacy.
Common questions
Is this the minimum a lender will accept?
No. This is the mathematical down payment needed for your cash-flow target. Enter a lender’s minimum if you know it, then confirm loan eligibility and pricing separately.
Can I use it to find break-even cash flow?
Yes. Set the monthly cash-flow target to $0. The result covers the costs and reserves you entered, before income tax. That does not necessarily make the return on your upfront cash attractive.
What if I need more than 100% down?
There is no solution at that target. Even removing the mortgage would leave less cash flow than you want. Revisit achievable rent and expenses, or consider a different property.
What carries into the full property analyzer?
Your selected price, financing, rent, costs, reserves and repairs. The new analysis starts with 3% annual rent and fixed-cost growth, both editable. Growth does not affect the first-year results here.