The /property-estimate endpoint provides a complete investment projection for a ZIP code — combining market stats, rental data, and standard underwriting assumptions to produce cap rate, monthly cash flow, and cash-on-cash return estimates.
Request
Response Schema
The investment figures are nested under investment_metrics and the model inputs under assumptions — parse those objects, not the top level, for the derived numbers.
When a ZIP has too little loaded data to model, the response carries data_source: "unavailable" and a data_note instead of the metrics block — check for investment_metrics before reading it.
How the Worked Example Adds Up
Every figure above is derived from the two inputs — a 78701 median sale price of $475,000 and a 2-bedroom HUD FMR of $1,850/month — using only the stated assumptions:
This example is deliberately a negative-cash-flow market: a downtown ZIP with a high median price against a modest 40th-percentile HUD rent. That is what the numbers say, and the endpoint reports it rather than flattering it.
Assumptions Used
| Parameter | Assumption |
|---|---|
| Down payment | 20% of the estimated value |
| Mortgage rate | 7.0% fixed, 30-year amortising term |
| Expense ratio | 40% of gross rent (vacancy, management, maintenance, insurance, tax) |
| Bedroom count | 2-bedroom (HUD BR2 FMR) |
| Cash-on-cash basis | Down payment only — closing costs and capex reserves are excluded |
Cash flow is net operating income minus principal and interest; it excludes closing costs, capex reserves and HOA dues. These are standardised assumptions for screening purposes. Your actual results will vary based on purchase price negotiated, financing terms, property-specific expenses, and local management costs. Always verify with a full underwriting model before purchasing.