What a Gross Rent Multiplier of 6 Means

A GRM of 6 means the purchase price equals 6 years of gross rent. A GRM of 6 is low, and it is where the old 1% rule sits. Properties here usually cover a 30-year loan with 20 to 25% down and still cash flow, which is why they are getting harder to find.

A 6x GRM on a $300,000 property

Rent needed: $4,165 a month, $49,980 a year
Rent as a percent of price: 1.39% (meets the 1% rule, which is a GRM of 8.3)
Gross yield: 16.7%
Collected after 5% vacancy: $47,481
Implied NOI at a 36% expense ratio: $30,388
Implied cap rate: 10.13%

The implied lines are what a 6x GRM means if the property's costs are typical. Real taxes, insurance and dues move the cap rate while leaving the GRM unchanged, which is the reason GRM is a screen and not an underwriting number.

Rent needed for a GRM of 6 at other prices

The rent-to-price column is constant because GRM is a pure ratio of the two. Price only changes the dollar figure.

Price	Monthly rent	Annual rent	Rent / price
$100k	$1,390	$16,680	1.39%
$150k	$2,085	$25,020	1.39%
$200k	$2,780	$33,360	1.39%
$250k	$3,470	$41,640	1.39%
$300k	$4,165	$49,980	1.39%
$350k	$4,860	$58,320	1.39%
$400k	$5,555	$66,660	1.39%
$500k	$6,945	$83,340	1.39%
$600k	$8,335	$100,020	1.39%
$750k	$10,415	$124,980	1.39%
$1m	$13,890	$166,680	1.39%

Cap rate a 6x GRM implies at different expense ratios

The same GRM produces very different cap rates depending on what it costs to run the property. Single-family rentals in low-tax states run 25 to 35%. High-tax states, condos with dues, and older multifamily run 40 to 50%.

Expense ratio	Cap rate at 5% vacancy	Cap rate at 8% vacancy
25%	11.87%	11.50%
30%	11.08%	10.73%
36%	10.13%	9.81%
40%	9.50%	9.20%
45%	8.71%	8.43%
50%	7.92%	7.67%

Check your own property against 6x

The calculator is loaded with the example above and a target GRM of 6. Replace the numbers with yours.

Gross rent multiplier

6.00x

Low

Low. Six to eight years of gross rent. Cash-flow territory; the 1% rule lives here.

$300,000 price / $49,980 gross rent

Gross screens

Rent to pricemonthly rent / price: 1.39%
1% ruleneeds $3,000 a month: Meets it
Gross yieldannual gross rent / price: 16.66%
Monthly GRMprice / monthly rent: 72
Gross paybackyears of gross rent to equal price: 6.0 yrs

At a 6.0x GRM

Price this rent supports: $299,880
Asking is above that by: $120
Rent needed at asking pricevs $4,165 now: $4,167

What this GRM implies

Collected after vacancy: $47,481
Operating expenses36% of collected: -$17,093
Implied NOI: $30,388
Implied cap rate: 10.13%

GRM skips expenses. These lines show what the ratio means if this property's costs are typical. Replace them with real figures before you rely on it.

GRM of 6 questions

Is a GRM of 6 good?

Yes, for a buyer who wants income. A 6x GRM means rent is high relative to price, roughly 1.39% of price per month, and the property can usually cover a normal loan. Verify the rent and the property's condition, since very low multipliers sometimes signal problems.

What rent do I need for a GRM of 6 on a $300,000 property?

$4,165 a month, or $49,980 a year. Divide the price by the GRM and then by twelve: $300,000 / 6 / 12 = $4,167.

What cap rate does a GRM of 6 imply?

About 10.1% with 5% vacancy and operating expenses at 36% of collected rent. The formula is (1 minus vacancy) times (1 minus expense ratio) divided by GRM. Higher taxes, HOA dues or insurance push the real cap rate lower than the implied figure.