--- title: How Do You Calculate The Rate Of Return On Your Real Estate Investment (Total Holding Period)? description: When a real estate investment is sold, the investor will want to know if they came out ahead and by how much. image: https://www.realized1031.com/hubfs/Images/photo/abstract/coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350.jpg --- [![Realized 1031 Exchange Marketplace](https://www.realized1031.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Brand/Logo/Realized/Realized-Logo-Black.png?width=240&height=80&name=Realized-Logo-Black.png "Realized 1031 Logo") ](https://www.realized1031.com/) - [Wealth Management Gap](https://www.realized1031.com/the-wealth-management-gap) - [Our Process](https://www.realized1031.com/how-realized-works) - [Financial Advisors](https://www.realized1031.com/advisor) - [Resources](https://www.realized1031.com/resources) - [The Company](https://www.realized1031.com/about-us) - [Articles](https://www.realized1031.com/blog) [Register](https://www.realized1031.com/marketplace) [Log In](https://www.realized1031.com/login) - Better Business Bureau Rating: **A+** - [FINRA BrokerCheck](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/22333) - [Call](tel:1-877-797-1031) **(877) 797-1031** # How Do You Calculate The Rate Of Return On Your Real Estate Investment (Total Holding Period)? Posted Feb 21, 2021 ![coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350](https://www.realized1031.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/photo/abstract/coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350.jpg?width=752&name=coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350.jpg) When a real estate investment is sold, the investor will want to know if they came out ahead and by how much. Finding the return on investment requires some calculations. Specifically, we need to look at something called the total holding period return. The holding period return is similar to calculating annual returns during the holding period (before a property is sold). The main difference is that we must add the ending cash flow or sale proceeds. ### Calculating Profit on the Sale of an Investment We’re going to use the same example from our [first article](https://www.realized1031.com/blog/how-do-you-calculate-the-rate-of-return-on-your-real-estate-investment) on calculating returns. In that article, we focused on calculating returns before selling the investment. This provided a performance return during the holding period. Now it's time to sell the investment and figure out the total return. Here are the home purchase numbers that we’re using: Home purchase price: $200,000 Monthly rent: $1400  Down payment (equity): $40,000 (19% of total investment with improvements: $210,000) Loan: $170,000 @ 3% for 30 years This property generates $1,464 (12 x $122) in annual cash flows. After a ten year holding period, we decided to sell the home. It’s value has risen from $200,000 to $280,000. After ten years of payments, the loan balance is $129,233.68, which means there is $150,766.32 in equity. To figure out the total profit from this sale, we’ll follow this general formula: Gain/loss = (sale price) - (adjust cost basis) We know the sale price was $280,000, and now we need the adjusted cost basis. We also must split the sale into allocations for the building and land. This split is used on form [Form 4797](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4797.pdf). Form 4797 basically treats the property sale as two different sales — building and land. The allocation percentages can be found on your property tax statements (in the absence of an appraisal). We’ll assume allocations of 70% for the building and 30% for the land.  The related sales cost and depreciation are: Annual Depreciation @ 3.6%: $72,000 over 10 years ($7,200 x 10) Sales Price: $280,000 Realtor Commissions at 6%: $16,800 Now split the purchase price of $200,000 based on the percentage allocations: Building Allocation: $150,000 Land Allocation: $50,000 And follow that as well by splitting the sales price of $280,000: Building Allocation: $196,000 Land Allocation: $84,000 We must also allocate our selling cost of $16,800: Building Cost: $11,760 Land Cost: $5,040 It's time to calculate the [adjusted basis](https://www.realized1031.com/glossary/adjusted-basis). The building is considered [Section 1250](https://www.realized1031.com/blog/what-is-a-section-1250-property) property. This means it will be subject to [unrecaptured depreciation](https://www.realized1031.com/blog/what-is-depreciation-recapture-and-how-is-it-calculated), which we’ll calculate a little later. Building (Section 1250): $150,000 Sales Expense: $11,760 Improvements: $5,000 Depreciation: - $72,000 Adjusted Basis: = $94,760 From here, we can proceed with the building’s gain: Building Sale Proceeds: $196,000 Adjusted Basis: - $94,760 Long-Term (LT) Capital Gain: $101,240 We can move on to the land gain. These calculations will follow the same format as our building gain calculations. Land does not depreciate, so there is nothing to factor in for depreciation. Original Basis + Sales Expense: $55,040 (50,000 + 5040) Depreciation: $0 And now we can calculate the cost basis: Land Sale Proceeds: $84,000 Adjusted Basis: - $50,000 (50,000 - 0) Total Gain: = $34,000 The land’s total gain is equal to its long-term capital gain since there is no depreciation. At this point, we can calculate the total long-term capital gain by adding the following: Building LT Gain: $101,240 Land LT Gain: $34,000 Total LT Gain: $135,240 ### Calculating Holding Period Return A total of $45,000 was put into the property — $40,000 down payment and $5,000 for improvements. From that $45,000, the property returned $135,240 over 10 years. That’s a gain of 300% before taxes. To get an idea of annual returns, we can do the following: 300/100 = 3  3 + 1 = 4 4 ^ 1/10 (raise 4 to the 1/0 power) = 1.1487 1.1487 - 1 = 0.1487 0.1487 x 100 - 14.87% The above annual returns are only a rough approximation. Your accountant can provide the exact value. Taxes will certainly affect the final return. Section 1250 unrecaptured depreciation (up to 25% rate) and the potential 3.8% Medicare surcharge tax may come into play in addition to long-term capital gains taxes. Tax calculations are more complicated since they are dependent on each person’s financial situation. It’s best to work with a tax advisor to figure out your after-tax return. Investors can defer taxes on the sale of their property by doing a 1031 exchange. Finding a replacement property can be a challenge, but DSTs (Delaware Statutory Trusts) offer an alternative to searching for direct properties. Whether a 1031 exchange is right for you is a discussion to have with your financial advisor.  This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. 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The holding period return is similar to calculating annual returns during the holding period (before a property is sold). The main difference is that we must add the ending cash flow or sale proceeds. Calculating Profit on the Sale of an Investment We’re going to use the same example from our first article on calculating returns. In that article, we focused on calculating returns before selling the investment. This provided a performance return during the holding period. Now it's time to sell the investment and figure out the total return. Here are the home purchase numbers that we’re using: Home purchase price: $200,000 Monthly rent: $1400 Down payment (equity): $40,000 (19% of total investment with improvements: $210,000) Loan: $170,000 @ 3% for 30 years This property generates $1,464 (12 x $122) in annual cash flows. After a ten year holding period, we decided to sell the home. It’s value has risen from $200,000 to $280,000. After ten years of payments, the loan balance is $129,233.68, which means there is $150,766.32 in equity. To figure out the total profit from this sale, we’ll follow this general formula: Gain/loss = (sale price) - (adjust cost basis) We know the sale price was $280,000, and now we need the adjusted cost basis. We also must split the sale into allocations for the building and land. This split is used on form Form 4797. Form 4797 basically treats the property sale as two different sales — building and land. The allocation percentages can be found on your property tax statements (in the absence of an appraisal). We’ll assume allocations of 70% for the building and 30% for the land. The related sales cost and depreciation are: Annual Depreciation @ 3.6%: $72,000 over 10 years ($7,200 x 10) Sales Price: $280,000 Realtor Commissions at 6%: $16,800 Now split the purchase price of $200,000 based on the percentage allocations: Building Allocation: $150,000 Land Allocation: $50,000 And follow that as well by splitting the sales price of $280,000: Building Allocation: $196,000 Land Allocation: $84,000 We must also allocate our selling cost of $16,800: Building Cost: $11,760 Land Cost: $5,040 It's time to calculate the adjusted basis. The building is considered Section 1250 property. This means it will be subject to unrecaptured depreciation, which we’ll calculate a little later. Building (Section 1250): $150,000 Sales Expense: $11,760 Improvements: $5,000 Depreciation: - $72,000 Adjusted Basis: = $94,760 From here, we can proceed with the building’s gain: Building Sale Proceeds: $196,000 Adjusted Basis: - $94,760 Long-Term (LT) Capital Gain: $101,240 We can move on to the land gain. These calculations will follow the same format as our building gain calculations. Land does not depreciate, so there is nothing to factor in for depreciation. Original Basis + Sales Expense: $55,040 (50,000 + 5040) Depreciation: $0 And now we can calculate the cost basis: Land Sale Proceeds: $84,000 Adjusted Basis: - $50,000 (50,000 - 0) Total Gain: = $34,000 The land’s total gain is equal to its long-term capital gain since there is no depreciation. At this point, we can calculate the total long-term capital gain by adding the following: Building LT Gain: $101,240 Land LT Gain: $34,000 Total LT Gain: $135,240 Calculating Holding Period Return A total of $45,000 was put into the property — $40,000 down payment and $5,000 for improvements. From that $45,000, the property returned $135,240 over 10 years. That’s a gain of 300% before taxes. To get an idea of annual returns, we can do the following: 300/100 = 3 3 + 1 = 4 4 ^ 1/10 (raise 4 to the 1/0 power) = 1.1487 1.1487 - 1 = 0.1487 0.1487 x 100 - 14.87% The above annual returns are only a rough approximation. Your accountant can provide the exact value. Taxes will certainly affect the final return. Section 1250 unrecaptured depreciation (up to 25% rate) and the potential 3.8% Medicare surcharge tax may come into play in addition to long-term capital gains taxes. Tax calculations are more complicated since they are dependent on each person’s financial situation. It’s best to work with a tax advisor to figure out your after-tax return. Investors can defer taxes on the sale of their property by doing a 1031 exchange. Finding a replacement property can be a challenge, but DSTs (Delaware Statutory Trusts) offer an alternative to searching for direct properties. Whether a 1031 exchange is right for you is a discussion to have with your financial advisor. This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions.", "articleSection" : [ "Real Estate Investing" ], "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "email" : "marketing@realized1031.com", "image" : "", "name" : "The Realized Team", "url" : "https://www.realized1031.com/blog/author/the-realized-team" }, "dateModified" : "2021-02-21T18:00:00+0000", "datePublished" : "2021-02-21T18:00:00+0000", "description" : "When a real estate investment is sold, the investor will want to know if they came out ahead and by how much.", "headline" : "How Do You Calculate The Rate Of Return On Your Real Estate Investment (Total Holding Period)?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 504, "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/733513/Images/photo/abstract/coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350.jpg", "width" : 752 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.realized1031.com/blog/how-do-you-calculate-the-rate-of-return-on-your-real-estate-investment-total-holding-period", "name" : "How Do You Calculate The Rate Of Return On Your Real Estate Investment (Total Holding Period)?", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Austin", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "78701", "streetAddress" : "500 W 13th Street " }, "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "http://www.realized1031.com/hubfs/Images/Brand/Logo/Realized/Realized-Logo-Black-No-Margin-296x60-AMP.png", "width" : 296 }, "name" : "Realized" }, "thumbnailUrl" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/733513/Images/photo/abstract/coins-wood-house-IS-1264327350.jpg" } ```