how to analyze property performance

Those concerns may be interesting and productive for those who have the time and resources to spend on them, but I suspect they may be putting too much emphasis on current performance of real estate investments, as opposed to long-term appreciation. I get the impression it is sort of like being concerned with the current dividends and short-term fluctuations of stocks and mutual funds as opposed to long-term capital gains.

A "buy and hold" strategy has much to recommend it in real estate as it does in stock investment. Someone who ventures into real estate and then quits after a few years for one reason or another is being as unwise as someone who buys stocks or mutual funds and then sells after a few years, tries to time the market, etc. One's time horizon is as important in real estate as it is inequities, if not more so. Current statistics that change from year to year are not the main concern.

Yes, that is true. If you invest in rental property, you have to plan in advance about cash flow and allow for vacancies, repairs, etc. It is best to make a big down payment, so that mortgage payments do not eat up all the cash from rentals. If you can't afford a big down payment, go for a lower-priced property where you can afford one. But that kind of caution is not a lot different from investment in stocks and mutual funds. It is generally agreed that you should not invest in equities until you have paid off credit card debt and maxed out pension plans, etc.

Investing in rental property is much the same as financing your personal residence. People get into trouble, we know, when they buy big houses with small down payments and large mortgages, and then emergencies come along so they cannot keep up the monthly payments. Better to buy a smaller house with a substantial down payment and a lesser mortgage. The same for investment property.

I agree that you should get rid of a house that looks like it was a poor investment for one reason or another. But that decision should be made for convincing reasons, not because of temporary economic conditions, a slow rental market, etc. just as you should not buy and sell stocks on the basis of the temporary ups and downs in prices.

The way I look at it isn't necessarily the way your CPA looks at it. Do your taxes correctly. I find it easiest to lump all the recurring expenses/income together and all the one time expenses/income together. So I consider the monthly principal payment to be a recurring expense. The principal (paydown) gain when I sell a one time income. NOI doesn't really include tax benefits. Unless you are a high income earner and own properties free and clear your real estate will probably be in the low income brackets. Especially if you have significant debt service. The really great thing about real estate is that you can take on as much debt service as you like and make your net income anything you want. Low or negative cashflow is the easiest thing in the world to come by. The depreciation recapture is a one time expense when you sell. The depreciation tax benefit doesn't really show up in CAP or cash on cash return. You just know it is there like icing on the cake. Of course you can define any metric you want and include recurring depreciation benefits.

I understand "buy and hold", that's for darn sure. I also know that as long as you are holding something, you should manage it well. so, annual analysis is wise.

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