Rental yield calculator for the United States
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What a rental property in the United States actually returns once the 3.5% cost of buying is in the denominator — not the gross figure the listing shows.
What it costs to buy in the United States
These are the costs that separate a listing's gross yield from the yield you will really earn. They are pre-filled in the calculator and every one of them stays editable.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Stamp duty / transfer tax | 1% |
| Legal & survey fees | 2.5% |
| Total cost of buying | 3.5% |
| Cost of selling | 6% |
| Typical deposit | 25% |
Transfer taxes are set by state and county and range from nothing to several percent. Closing costs of 2-5% are separate and often larger than the tax itself.
Typical market costs, reviewed 2026-10. Editable.
A worked purchase in the United States
Computed by the same modules the calculator runs, at a 5% gross yield with a 5% vacancy allowance and costs at 30% of rent.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $300,000.00 |
| Stamp duty / transfer tax | $3,000.00 |
| Legal & survey fees | $7,500.00 |
| Total invested | $310,500.00 |
| Monthly rent | $1,250.00 |
| Net operating income | $9,750.00 |
| Gross yield (on price) | 5% |
| Gross yield (on total cost) | 4.83% |
| Net yield | 3.14% |
Three steps
- Pick the United States and the local costs and currency are applied.
- Enter the asking price and the monthly rent.
- Read the net yield, then switch to the mortgage tab to see the cash flow.
the United States questions
How much does it cost to buy a rental property in the United States?
Around 3.5% of the purchase price in this market, of which 1% is stamp duty or transfer tax and the rest is legal and survey work. Rates vary by region, value band and buyer status, so treat the figure as a starting point and confirm it with a local conveyancer.
Does stamp duty change the rental yield?
It changes the net yield, because net yield is measured against what the purchase actually cost rather than the asking price. At 3.5% of buying costs, a 6% gross yield becomes roughly 5.6% before a single running cost is counted. Gross yield ignores it entirely, which is why listings quote gross.
What is a good rental yield in the United States?
There is no single answer, and anyone quoting one is selling something. What matters is the net yield against your own purchase costs, compared with what the same money earns elsewhere at the same risk. The calculator gives you the net figure; the comparison is yours to make.