Gross rent

The total rent a property collects before any expenses. Often quoted as monthly or annual gross rent when investors talk about a property.

Investment terms · Updated September 2026

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Part 1 of 4

Why a seller cares

Gross rent is the total rent before any expense, and it is the number investors quote first when they talk about your rental. It is also the number the 1% rule and the gross rent multiplier are built on.

Part 2 of 4

A simple example

Your duplex collects $1,100 and $1,150 a month. Its gross rent is $2,250 a month, or $27,000 a year.

Gross rent: a simple example
The numberWhat it is
Gross rent, $27,000Everything collected
Net operating income, about $16,000After taxes, insurance, repairs and management
Cash flow, about $4,000After the buyer's mortgage as well

Gross rent is the top of the ladder. Every number an investor cares about is a rung below it.

Part 3 of 4

What people get wrong

That gross rent is income. It is revenue; the income is what is left after the building is paid for.

Part 4 of 4 · where to read next

Where it appears in the sale

What a definition is, and what it isn't

Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.

Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish

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