Understanding Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM)

Understanding Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) for Real Estate Investors

Understanding Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) Before You Buy

If you’re looking at income properties, you’ve probably heard the term Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM). It’s one of the fastest ways to compare investment opportunities — but if misunderstood, it can lead you to overpay.

What is GRM?

GRM tells you how many years of gross rent it would take to equal the purchase price of a property.

GRM = Property Price ÷ Gross Annual Rent

Example: A duplex sells for $450,000 and collects $32,400/year in rent:

450,000 ÷ 32,400 = 13.88 GRM

Why is a Lower GRM Better?

“Why is a higher GRM bad if we multiply it to find property value?”

A higher GRM means you are paying more dollars for each dollar of rent income — it takes longer to recover your investment.

  • GRM 10 → Pay $10 for every $1 of rent (better value)
  • GRM 23 → Pay $23 for every $1 of rent (worse value)

Recent Market Examples

AddressSale PriceAnnual RentGRM
637 59th Street$450,000$32,40013.88
623 46th Street$355,000$15,00023.67
510 48th Street$500,000$34,56914.46

Average GRM for This Market

Excluding the 23+ outlier, the average GRM is 14.18. This means investors are paying about 14 times the annual rent for properties in this area.

Example using $3,200 monthly rent (both units):

$3,200 × 12 = $38,400 annual rent
$38,400 × 14.18 = $544,512 estimated value

Visual: Impact of GRM on Value

GRM Impact Chart

Quick Reference Table

Monthly RentAnnual RentValue @ 14.18 GRM
$2,500$30,000$425,400
$3,000$36,000$510,480
$3,500$42,000$595,560
$4,000$48,000$680,640

How to Use GRM When You Shop

  1. Find annual gross rent (monthly × 12).
  2. Use the average GRM (14.18 here).
  3. Multiply to estimate value.
  4. Compare with asking price: lower = better deal, higher = overpriced.

Limitations

GRM ignores expenses and should only be used as a quick screen. For full analysis, use Cap Rate and NOI calculations.

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