Homebuying

The Top Five SFR States for Long Term Return

Real Estate Trends
Spruce
April 3, 2023

The real estate market is always changing–anyone reading the latest industry headlines has witnessed daily ebbs and flows, from different geographies, price points, and outlooks.

When looking to invest in single family rental properties (SFR) within the United States, location is a key component of making the best decision for the long term. Our team analyzed SFR activity across the nation, identifying the top five SFR states based on a weighted ranking of various factors.

Read on to see the top five SFR states across the U.S.: 

1. TEXAS

A strong economy. A growing population. Texas has been in the limelight of SFR for quite some time. With an affordable median home price and low vacancy rates it’s easy to purchase and occupy across the state. If you zoom into particular cities - Dallas and Austin have been boom towns for job growth in recent years, while Houston continues to outperform. 


2. FLORIDA

As cold weather consistently persists into Spring, it’s a no-brainer that the Florida market has been making strides in the past decade. A warm climate the entire year and a steady tourist destination makes this a beloved state for renters. Depending where you invest, median home prices are still quite affordable, even in the coastal cities. Even despite hurricane fears, steady population growth continues to persist. 


3. CALIFORNIA

Demand in California has never ceased, especially in SFR hubs like Riverside, Sacramento and San Diego. A high cost of living paired with a large population makes rentals the only option for most. A high occupancy rate, stable cash flow, along with constant appreciation of the value of your investment is a recipe for long term success. 


4. ARIZONA

Compared to other states out west, Arizona sets itself apart from the pack. It’s relatively affordable, has landlord-friendly laws (making it easier for property owners to manage their rental properties) and has a strong, growing economy. Major companies have recently taken a liking to cities like Scottsdale and Phoenix–building new hubs for industries like technology, healthcare, and manufacturing–all of which provide stable incomes. 



5. GEORGIA

Over the coming years, Georgia has grown in attraction for cultivating a pro-business environment. With favorable tax policies and incentives for new business, hundreds of companies have flocked down south. Georgia’s diversified economy is a powerhouse for technology, logistics and healthcare. A diverse economy allows for a stable housing market that isn’t reliant on one entire industry. Plus, with Spruce’s  proprietary automated underwriting model, investors can reduce multiple-day searches to a few minutes, saving precious time on each transaction without sacrificing quality or security.

If you’re an investor looking to scale your SFR portfolio, whether it be in a top 5 state or across the U.S., Spruce has you covered. With a platform that provides transparent, fast and efficient title & closing services–we’re a valuable partner for investors seeking to streamline their investment process.

Take a look at other ways we’re helping investors scale, headache-free.

  • SprucePowered - a managed title and closing services solution that enables investors to generate new revenue

Meet with our dedicated team of experts to learn more about how Spruce can help monetize your title strategy. 

Here’s a breakdown of our methodology - we looked at five primary factors that we believe drive SFR transaction volume, as well as three secondary factors that contribute to investor interest.  We weighted each factor based on their importance and calculated a weighted ranking for each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which we summed up to establish our rankings.  

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Article by
Spruce

The Top Five SFR States for Long Term Return

The real estate market is always changing–anyone reading the latest industry headlines has witnessed daily ebbs and flows, from different geographies, price points, and outlooks.

When looking to invest in single family rental properties (SFR) within the United States, location is a key component of making the best decision for the long term. Our team analyzed SFR activity across the nation, identifying the top five SFR states based on a weighted ranking of various factors.

Read on to see the top five SFR states across the U.S.: 

1. TEXAS

A strong economy. A growing population. Texas has been in the limelight of SFR for quite some time. With an affordable median home price and low vacancy rates it’s easy to purchase and occupy across the state. If you zoom into particular cities - Dallas and Austin have been boom towns for job growth in recent years, while Houston continues to outperform. 


2. FLORIDA

As cold weather consistently persists into Spring, it’s a no-brainer that the Florida market has been making strides in the past decade. A warm climate the entire year and a steady tourist destination makes this a beloved state for renters. Depending where you invest, median home prices are still quite affordable, even in the coastal cities. Even despite hurricane fears, steady population growth continues to persist. 


3. CALIFORNIA

Demand in California has never ceased, especially in SFR hubs like Riverside, Sacramento and San Diego. A high cost of living paired with a large population makes rentals the only option for most. A high occupancy rate, stable cash flow, along with constant appreciation of the value of your investment is a recipe for long term success. 


4. ARIZONA

Compared to other states out west, Arizona sets itself apart from the pack. It’s relatively affordable, has landlord-friendly laws (making it easier for property owners to manage their rental properties) and has a strong, growing economy. Major companies have recently taken a liking to cities like Scottsdale and Phoenix–building new hubs for industries like technology, healthcare, and manufacturing–all of which provide stable incomes. 



5. GEORGIA

Over the coming years, Georgia has grown in attraction for cultivating a pro-business environment. With favorable tax policies and incentives for new business, hundreds of companies have flocked down south. Georgia’s diversified economy is a powerhouse for technology, logistics and healthcare. A diverse economy allows for a stable housing market that isn’t reliant on one entire industry. Plus, with Spruce’s  proprietary automated underwriting model, investors can reduce multiple-day searches to a few minutes, saving precious time on each transaction without sacrificing quality or security.

If you’re an investor looking to scale your SFR portfolio, whether it be in a top 5 state or across the U.S., Spruce has you covered. With a platform that provides transparent, fast and efficient title & closing services–we’re a valuable partner for investors seeking to streamline their investment process.

Take a look at other ways we’re helping investors scale, headache-free.

  • SprucePowered - a managed title and closing services solution that enables investors to generate new revenue

Meet with our dedicated team of experts to learn more about how Spruce can help monetize your title strategy. 

Here’s a breakdown of our methodology - we looked at five primary factors that we believe drive SFR transaction volume, as well as three secondary factors that contribute to investor interest.  We weighted each factor based on their importance and calculated a weighted ranking for each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which we summed up to establish our rankings.