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Investor guides
Every number on DSCRRadar comes from four metrics: cap rate, gross yield, DSCR, and cash-on-cash. These guides explain each one and show how they decide whether a rental actually pays.
Start here if you are new. A deal has to clear a lender DSCR of 1.2 to get financed, then return cash after the mortgage to be worth owning. At a 6.80% 30-year rate with 25% down and a 40% expense load, only 4 of the 18 metros we track clear that DSCR line today, and 6 run a positive cash-on-cash return. Cleveland leads the Index at 100 with a 1.22 DSCR and 4.6% cash-on-cash. The cheaper Midwest and Southern markets cash-flow, the pricier coastal and Sun Belt markets do not. The guides below show you how to run those numbers on any property before you make an offer.
What each metric tells you
| Metric | Question it answers | Counts financing? | Rough pass line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap rate | What does the property yield before any loan? | No | Above your loan rate |
| Gross yield | How much rent per dollar of price? | No | 8% or more |
| DSCR | Does the rent cover the mortgage? | Yes | 1.2 to qualify |
| Cash-on-cash | What return do you earn on the cash you put in? | Yes | Positive, then compare to other uses |
The Investor Yield Index blends all four into a single 0 to 100 score per market, weighting cap rate and DSCR most. Read the methodology for the exact weights and bands.
A worked example
Here is how the four metrics line up on the current Index leader, Cleveland, using its live median price and rent.
Cap rate
Gross yield
DSCR, clears 1.2
Cash-on-cash
At a 6.80% rate, the rent covers the mortgage with room to spare and the deal returns cash. Run any property you are eyeing the same way before you offer.
The guides
Where Do Rental Properties Still Cash-Flow in 2026?
At 2026's rates, cash-flow investing is hard everywhere. Here's how the Investor Yield Index surfaces the markets that still work, and why.
Jun 19, 2026
Cash-on-Cash vs. Cap Rate, the Difference Investors Miss
Cap rate ignores financing; cash-on-cash includes it. Confusing the two leads to bad deals. Here's the difference, with a worked example.
Jun 19, 2026
DSCR Loan Requirements, What You Actually Need to Qualify
The concrete requirements to qualify for a DSCR loan in 2026, minimum DSCR, down payment, credit, reserves, and property criteria.
Jun 19, 2026
Hard Money vs. DSCR Loans. Which Investor Financing Fits?
Hard money and DSCR loans both skip income verification but serve different stages. Here's how to choose between bridge financing and long-term takeout.
Jun 19, 2026
How to Analyze a Rental Property, a Step-by-Step Walkthrough
A repeatable framework for analyzing a rental deal, from gross yield and cap rate through DSCR, cash-on-cash, and the go/no-go decision.
Jun 19, 2026