Location: Greene County, NY | Metro: Greene County, NY
Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,130 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,180 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,390 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,910 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $2,100 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,436 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,728 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,946 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $3,093 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3BR | $1,910 | $335,549 | 0.57% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if a landlord should buy in ZIP code 12418 for Section 8 purposes, follow this decision tree:
Step 1: Evaluate the Fair Market Rent (FMR) against the debt service of a property priced at $306,941. The FMR for the metro area in fiscal year 2026 is set at $1,540. This amount must cover the mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and other expenses associated with owning a property. If the total debt service exceeds $1,540, then the answer is No; the FMR does not sufficiently cover the costs.
Step 2: Compare the market rent to the FMR. In this case, the market rent is not available (N/A). Without this information, it's impossible to make an accurate comparison. However, if the market rent were known and was higher than $1,540, the answer would be No; landlords would likely prefer to rent out their properties at market rates rather than accept Section 8 tenants. If the market rent equals or is lower than $1,540, proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Assess the demand for rental properties. Currently, 18.2% of residents in ZIP 12418 are renters, indicating a moderate level of demand. Additionally, the days on market (DOM) for rental listings is not available (N/A), which could suggest either a very quick or slow rental market. Given the limited data, the answer here is It Depends. Landlords need to consider whether the 18.2% of renters represents a sufficient number of potential Section 8 tenants. A quick rental market might indicate strong demand, but without specific DOM data, it's challenging to draw conclusions.
If you can confirm that the debt service is covered by the FMR of $1,540, and the market rent is either equal to or below this figure, the final decision hinges on the strength of the rental demand. With only 18.2% of residents being renters, landlords must weigh the likelihood of finding enough Section 8 tenants to fill their properties. If the rental market is robust, the answer leans towards Yes. Otherwise, it remains It Depends.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-08-31). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).
About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.