What is a good expense ratio for real estate?
Daniel Lopez
Updated on March 05, 2026
At this point, an underwriter knows that our example gross monthly income will work with a loan. The rule of thumb to qualify for a mortgage with the housing expense ratio is that anything below 28% is good.
What is a good operating expense ratio real estate?
OER is used for comparing the expenses of similar properties. An investor should look for red flags, such as higher maintenance expenses, operating income, or utilities that may deter him from purchasing a specific property. The ideal OER is between 60% and 80% (although the lower it is, the better).What is a good income to expense ratio for rental property?
The 50% Rule states that normal operating expenses β excluding the mortgage payment β for a rental property can be estimated to be about one-half of the gross rental income. If the gross rental income is $1,000 per month then the estimated operating expenses could be $500 per month.What is the 50% rule in real estate?
The 50% rule or 50 rule in real estate says that half of the gross income generated by a rental property should be allocated to operating expenses when determining profitability. The rule is designed to help investors avoid the mistake of underestimating expenses and overestimating profits.What is a good profit to expense ratio?
High and Low RatiosA good expense ratio, from the investor's viewpoint, is around 0.5% to 0.75% for an actively managed portfolio. An expense ratio greater than 1.5% is considered high. The expense ratio for mutual funds is typically higher than expense ratios for ETFs.