Methodology

The Freehold Score

A single number that tells you how your property — or your entire portfolio — is actually performing. Grounded in the same metrics institutions use, built for independent owners.

0Critical

What is the Freehold Score?

The Freehold Score is a composite performance rating from 0 to 100 that measures how well a property or portfolio is performing across the dimensions that actually matter: cash flow strength, market positioning, risk exposure, and growth potential.

Institutions evaluate assets this way internally — but they use teams of analysts and proprietary models. The Freehold Score distills that same framework into a single, transparent number that updates as your data changes.

Every property in your Freehold dashboard gets a score. Your portfolio gets a blended score. And every deal you analyze with Freehold Acquire gets a score before you make an offer.

Score Scale

Exceptional90100

Institutional-quality performance. Top-decile returns with low risk exposure.

Strong8089

Above-market performance with comfortable margins. Minor optimization opportunities.

Good7079

Solid fundamentals. Performing at or above market with some areas to improve.

Fair6069

Mixed performance. One or more metrics are below benchmark. Attention needed.

Underperforming5059

Below-market returns or elevated risk. Strategic action required.

Critical049

Significant issues across multiple dimensions. Immediate intervention recommended.

The Four Pillars

The Freehold Score is composed of four equally-weighted pillars, each worth up to 25 points. See where the underlying data comes from →

Cash Flow Strength
Market Positioning
Risk Profile
Growth Potential

Cash Flow Strength

0–25 points

How healthy is your income after all obligations?

DSCR (0–7 pts)
Cash-on-cash return (0–6 pts)
NOI margin (0–6 pts)
Cash flow trend YoY (0–6 pts)

Scoring Detail

DSCR > 1.35 → 7 pts | 1.25–1.35 → 6 | 1.15–1.25 → 4 | 1.0–1.15 → 2 | < 1.0 → 0

CoC > 10% → 6 pts | 8–10% → 5 | 6–8% → 3 | 4–6% → 2 | < 4% → 1

NOI margin > 60% → 6 pts | 50–60% → 4 | 40–50% → 3 | < 40% → 1

Positive trend → 6 pts | Flat → 3 | Declining → 1

Market Positioning

0–25 points

How do your rents and returns compare to the local market?

Rent vs market comps (0–8 pts)
Cap rate vs market avg (0–9 pts)
Occupancy vs market (0–8 pts)

Scoring Detail

Rent > 5% above → 8 pts | 0–5% above → 6 | 0–5% below → 4 | 5–10% below → 2 | > 10% below → 1

Cap rate > 0.5% above → 9 pts | 0–0.5% above → 7 | 0–0.5% below → 4 | > 0.5% below → 2

Occupancy > 97% → 8 pts | 95–97% → 6 | 90–95% → 4 | 85–90% → 2 | < 85% → 1

Risk Profile

0–25 points

How exposed are you to downside scenarios?

DSCR cushion (0–7 pts)
Vacancy risk (0–6 pts)
Geographic diversification (0–6 pts)
Lease rollover concentration (0–6 pts)

Scoring Detail

Cushion > 0.35 → 7 pts | 0.25–0.35 → 5 | 0.15–0.25 → 3 | < 0.15 → 1

0% vacancy → 6 pts | < 5% → 4 | 5–15% → 2 | > 15% → 1

3+ markets → 6 pts | 2 markets → 4 | 1 market → 2

< 20% expiring in 60d → 6 pts | 20–40% → 4 | > 40% → 2

Growth Potential

0–25 points

How much upside does this property or portfolio have?

Rent gap upside (0–8 pts)
Market rent growth trend (0–9 pts)
Value-add opportunity (0–8 pts)

Scoring Detail

Rent > 10% below market → 8 pts | 5–10% → 6 | 0–5% → 4 | At/above market → 3

Growth > 5% YoY → 9 pts | 3–5% → 7 | 1–3% → 4 | Flat/declining → 2

High potential → 8 pts | Moderate → 5 | Fully optimized → 3

Estimate Your Freehold Score

Enter your property or portfolio numbers to get an estimated score. No account required.

$
$
$
%
$

Get your real Freehold Score.

Connect your portfolio to Freehold and get scores updated in real time — for every property and your portfolio as a whole.