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Property management glossary
Property investing

Debt service

Plain-English definition

The principal and interest payments due on a property’s loan during a period.

What debt service means in practice

Debt service is a financing cost, not an operating expense in the standard NOI calculation. Tracking it separately helps owners distinguish property performance from the effects of leverage.

Example

A property’s mortgage requires $1,200 per month in principal and interest, or $14,400 of annual debt service.

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This glossary is educational and not legal, tax, lending, or accounting advice. Rules and terminology can vary by jurisdiction and professional context.