BRRRR Calculator — Chicago, IL
Chicago offers BRRRR opportunities across a wide price spectrum — from $50K two-flats on the South Side to $200K+ bungalows in gentrifying West Side neighborhoods. High property taxes are the main headwind to cash flow.
Median Price
$310,000
Rent Yield
7.0%
BRRRR Entry
$150,000
Local tip: Cook County property taxes can change dramatically after rehab triggers a reassessment. Model your post-rehab tax bill at the ARV assessment level, not the pre-rehab rate.
Numbers below are pre-loaded with typical Chicago market data. Adjust to match your specific deal.
BRRRR Calculator
Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat — decision-grade analysis
This deal does not work as a BRRRR — refinance math does not support full capital recovery.
DSCR of 0.56 means rental income does not cover the refinanced mortgage. The deal loses money every month after refinancing.
Capital Recovery Rate
101.4%
Percentage of your total invested cash recovered through refinance. 80%+ is strong. Below 60% means significant capital stays trapped.
Monthly Cash Flow
-$601
Net monthly income after all expenses and the refinanced mortgage payment. This is what hits your bank account each month.
DSCR at Refinance
0.56
Debt Service Coverage Ratio — net operating income divided by annual mortgage payment. Lenders typically require 1.0+ and prefer 1.25+.
Warnings
🔴 DSCR below 1.0 — this deal does not cash flow after refinance
The Debt Service Coverage Ratio is below 1.0, meaning rental income does not cover the mortgage payment after refinancing. Most lenders will not approve this refinance, and if they do, you will lose money every month.
Increase rent, reduce purchase price, or find a property with a lower ARV-to-price ratio to improve cash flow after refinance.
Compare DSCR lender options→
🟡 Cost basis is high relative to ARV — thin margin for value-add
Your all-in cost (purchase + rehab) is 75% of ARV. Successful BRRRRs typically target 70-75% or lower. The tighter this ratio, the less room for error.
Negotiate a lower purchase price or find a property where the rehab creates more value relative to cost.
Deal Breakdown
Purchase
Rehab
Refinance
Cash Flow (Annual)
Returns
Sensitivity Analysis
ARV Variance
Rehab Overrun
Rent Variance
This analysis is an estimate based on the inputs you provided. Actual results will vary. Not financial advice. Consult qualified professionals before making investment decisions.
BRRRR Timeline
Purchase
Month 0 · $150,000 — $36,900 cash at closing
Rehab Complete
Month 4 · $46,000 total rehab cost
Tenant Placed
Month 5 · $1,600/mo rent starts
Seasoning Met
Month 6 · 6 months — eligible for full-ARV refinance
Refinance
Month 6 · $129,309 returned, -$1,762 left in deal
Year 1
Month 12 · -$7,218 annual cash flow
Month 0: Purchase — $150,000 — $36,900 cash at closing
Month 4: Rehab Complete — $46,000 total rehab cost
Month 5: Tenant Placed — $1,600/mo rent starts
Month 6: Seasoning Met — 6 months — eligible for full-ARV refinance
Month 6: Refinance — $129,309 returned, -$1,762 left in deal
Month 12: Year 1 — -$7,218 annual cash flow
Capital Recovery Waterfall
Show data table
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Invested | -$127,547 |
| Recovered at Refi | $129,309 |
| Cash Flow Y1 | -$7,218 |
| Equity Y1 | $9,598 |
| Net Position | -$5,456 |
Sensitivity: ARV vs Rehab Overrun
| ARV ↓ / Rehab → | Base | +10% | +20% | +30% | +50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -20% | 71% | 69% | 67% | 64% | 61% |
| -15% | 79% | 76% | 74% | 71% | 67% |
| -10% | 86% | 83% | 81% | 78% | 73% |
| -5% | 94% | 91% | 88% | 85% | 80% |
| Base | 101% | 98% | 95% | 91% | 86% |