Model / Cash Flow Timing

How do you decide what start date to use in your model? And how do you handle year 1 rent/expense inflation if the most recent operating statements don’t match up nicely with the timing of your model?

For example, say I’m underwriting a RE acquisition right now which realistically wouldn’t close for a few months, should “year 1” of the cash flow start in May 2017? And if so, say I’m underwriting off of 2016 year end financials, do I bother adding a little extra inflation in year 1 for the extra 5 months? This gets even more complicated if, say, I'm underwriting off a mix of 2016 actuals, a 2017 budget, maybe some Feb/March 2017 bills, etc...

What do you typically do?

10 Comments
 

Yeah I usually just start my models at the beginning of next month. Like I would put a venture start date of 3/1/2017 if I started a fresh model right now. If it's the only hardcoded date input it doesn't really matter because it's easy to update.

Generally you don't want to model inflation in the current year, most models tend to do 0% in yr 1 (current), some smaller portion (1-2%) in yr 2, then step into their true escalations, be it 2 or 3% or whatever - but this is more for global purposes, e.g. for new leases or capex.

If you have a rent roll you should know what the income side looks like. I would inflate the opex budget 2-3% if you're UW based on last year's operating statement, because you don't know the true numbers til the end of the year.

 

There are some missing pieces of info that would make the formula better.

• Does this threshold have to be met by year 3 or is it anytime you reach that threshold (say year 4 or 5)? • If & when the threshold is met, is it fixed for 5 years? • What happens after the 5th year of fixed payments – does the interest revert to L + spread?

If you don't need the formula to be dynamic based on analysis year then I would go with what SHB said.

 
Best Response

This is probably not the easiest/most elegant way to do it but I think it works. This is for a one-time trigger where the 5-year period will not continue to be extended if the income threshold is met.

Create a line that is basically your trigger switch. This line will be a IF(AND(Income>X,sumofpreviousyears1),1,0) -- This makes it so that a 1 will be displayed in the FIRST year that your income threshold is met and never again

Make a named cell that is TriggerYear that index/matches it (make sure it is iferror'd so that if it never happens you won't N/A yourself)

on your debtservice line do a IF like this IF(OR(TriggerYear=ThisYear,AND(ThisYear>=TriggerYear,(TriggerYear+4)>=ThisYear),NEWDEBTSERVICE,ORIGINALDEBTSERVICE)

Yes, the AND statements are nested inside the OR.

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 

Sit numquam odio architecto hic voluptas. Hic placeat non dignissimos quam voluptatem. Praesentium autem aut dolorem cupiditate dolorem. Esse reiciendis excepturi molestiae id culpa id quia est. Dolore molestiae sit modi et ducimus voluptatem molestiae officia.

Tempore nostrum autem repellendus illo accusantium officia corporis quibusdam. Omnis soluta et amet rerum. Excepturi maxime et est earum. Et saepe soluta nihil adipisci. Incidunt et quibusdam autem iusto officiis sint.

Est autem dolorem veritatis est. Quos sed tenetur enim temporibus. Qui sequi impedit est voluptatum quia. Quaerat in occaecati neque facilis. Hic esse doloribus nesciunt quae omnis ex cumque.

Earum dolor nemo est a amet aperiam qui. Quia maxime ut repudiandae vero mollitia eos. Totam neque omnis enim vel modi voluptatem fugit perferendis. Soluta saepe minus sunt aperiam blanditiis eaque. Ipsa ut omnis quisquam incidunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”