Passively Rich with Rentals | Passive Income & Real Estate Investing for Busy Professionals

Evaluate Rental Properties Without the 1% Rule: What Actually Works

β€’ Melissa Nash Real Estate Investor & Coach β€’ Season 2025 β€’ Episode 57

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0:00 | 18:59

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In this episode, we're talking about why the 1% rule is dead β€” and what to look for in a rental property instead.

Most people use the 1% rule as their go-to filter for evaluating deals. If a property doesn't hit it, they pass. The problem? That one outdated metric is quietly keeping good investors on the sidelines while great deals go to someone else.

That's where they get stuck.

In this episode, I break down why the 1% rule made sense historically but no longer holds up in today's market, what's actually happening in Midwest markets like Indianapolis, and the mental model I use to evaluate deals in 2026 β€” so you can stop chasing a ratio and start building real wealth.

We'll go through why appreciation has broken the 1% rule in quality markets, what you're actually buying when you chase it into C-class neighborhoods, and what cash-on-cash return really looks like on a current deal β€” without managing tenants or fielding maintenance calls yourself.

If you've been passing on properties because they don't hit 1%, this episode will completely change how you evaluate deals.

What you'll learn:

  • What the 1% rule is and why it worked historically
  • Why Midwest appreciation has made it nearly impossible to hit in B-class neighborhoods
  • The hidden risks of chasing 1% into C-class areas
  • The portfolio pyramid mental model for building long-term wealth
  • What I actually look at instead β€” and the real numbers on a current Indianapolis deal

Go to https://www.passivelyrichwithrentals.com/scheduling and book a strategy call with me-  It is 30 minutes, it's free, and together we will figure out whether the academy is the right next step for you or whether you are already ready to jump into the deal bank. And start looking at live deals. 

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Have questions about an out-of-state market we mentioned, or want to see if your specific retirement account qualifies for non-recourse financing? I work with a limited number of investors at a time to ensure you get direct access to me and vetted, off-market deals. 

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