Net operating income (i.e., NOI) is one of the most important calculations made in regard to any real estate investment because it represents the property’s potential income after all vacancy and operating expenses have been subtracted. In other words, net operating income represents the investment property’s productivity, or measure of cash flow.

To help plant the idea, consider net operating income in one of the following two ways, depending on whether or not a mortgage exists.

The investor pays all cash for the property. In this case, since the investment property has no debt, NOI virtually becomes the rate of return expected from a property for any given annual period before taxes and depreciation are considered. In other words, given no deduction for debt service (loan payment), you can regard net operating income as the annual cash flow (cash flow before taxes, or CFBT).

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