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Paper 2 · Lesson 9 — Property Finance

Rental yield

The gross rental yield (annual rent ÷ purchase price) and why appreciation lowers the yield on current value.

1 questionAnswers & explanations includedFree — no sign-up

Question 1

Joel is weighing whether to keep letting the unit or to sell into a rising market, and as a first step wants the plain gross yield his rent represents against what he originally paid, before any costs are considered. Mr Joel Sim bought an apartment for $800,000 three years ago and has just let it at $2,500 a month. The unit is now valued at $960,000.

The gross rental yield on the purchase price is ______.

  1. A. 3.13%
  2. B. 3.75%
  3. C. 0.31%
  4. D. 4.50%
Show the answer and full explanation

Answer: B

The rule. Gross rental yield = annual rent ÷ purchase price × 100%.

Why B is correct. ($2,500 × 12) ÷ $800,000 = $30,000 ÷ $800,000 = 3.75%.

The other options.

  • A (3.13%) divides by the current $960,000 value, not the purchase price.
  • C (0.31%) uses the monthly rent instead of the annual rent.
  • D (4.50%) uses a $3,000 monthly rent.

Exam note. Gross yield is on the purchase price unless the question says otherwise — annualise the rent first.

Gross rental yield = annual rent ÷ purchase price × 100% →

Practise it under exam conditions

Single questions test whether you know a rule. The paper tests whether you can find it in a scenario, at speed, with three plausible alternatives in the way. Start with the free 20-question half-paper.

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