Quote from @Priscilla Chin:
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to buy my first long term investment property and am not sure whether I'm approaching my research for rental comps correctly. Please give me feedback...
Hi Priscilla,
Your approach to researching rental comps and market temperature is solid, but there are a few nuances that can help refine your process and give you a more accurate picture of rental demand. Let’s break it down:
1. Understanding Market Temperature on Zillow:
Zillow’s "warm" or "hot" market indicators are a good starting point, but they reflect overall real estate activity, not just rental demand. The market could be "hot" for home sales, but that doesn't always translate to rental demand. Keep in mind that it’s a broad overview, so combining it with more localized research is key.
2. Investigating Days on Market:
When you see homes sitting on the market for 60+ days, it does raise a red flag, but it doesn’t necessarily mean rental demand is low. Consider other factors:
- Pricing: Is the rental price competitive for the area? Sometimes homes are overpriced relative to the amenities or condition.
- Seasonality: Rental demand fluctuates depending on the time of year. A home sitting for months might be because it was listed during a slower rental season.
- Marketing and Property Management: Some landlords don’t market their properties well, or they might have strict tenant requirements that reduce the pool of potential renters.
3. Deeper Dive into Rental Demand:
Here are a few alternative ways to gauge rental demand:
- Local Property Managers: Reach out to property managers in the area for insights on vacancy rates, tenant demand, and how long it typically takes to rent similar properties.
- Vacancy Rates: Research the average vacancy rates in that zipcode through local real estate reports or rental listing platforms like Zumper or Rentometer.
- Rent Growth Trends: Check whether rents have been rising, stagnating, or falling in that market over the past few years. Consistent rent growth can signal strong demand.
- Job Market & Population Growth: Rental demand often follows job and population growth. If you’re investing in an area with new employers, infrastructure, or young professionals, demand could stay strong even if current listings are stagnant.
4. Competition and Listing Quality:
If homes are staying on the market, it could also be due to stiff competition in that neighborhood. Check whether there’s an overabundance of similar rentals or if newer, more modern buildings are attracting tenants away from older stock.
You're on the right track by doing detailed research, but don’t let longer days on market automatically steer you away from a zipcode. Dig deeper into the cause of those vacancies and look at broader trends like job growth and vacancy rates. If you're unsure, talking to local property managers or even prospective tenants can give you a clearer sense of whether a property will rent quickly.
Best of luck with your first investment!