Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 26369 - 2027

Location: Harrison County, WV | Metro: Harrison County, WV

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$770
1 Bedroom	$890
2 Bedrooms	$1,010
3 Bedrooms	$1,330
4 Bedrooms	$1,540
5 Bedrooms	$1,786
6 Bedrooms	$2,000
7 Bedrooms	$2,160
8 Bedrooms	$2,268

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

387

Median Household Income

$N/A

Housing Units

149

Renter Percentage

18.8%

Occupancy Rate

100.0%

Renter Occupied

A landlord considering purchasing a property in ZIP code 26369 for Section 8 purposes must evaluate several factors. The first step is to determine if the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1,060 for the metro area in fiscal year 2026 can cover the debt service on a property valued at $88,647. This calculation hinges on the specific financing terms, including interest rates and loan duration.

If the FMR does clear the debt service, the next question is whether the market rent is above, at, or below the FMR. Given that the market rent is listed as N/A, it's impossible to make a direct comparison. However, if we assume that the FMR reflects the general rental market conditions, then the answer to this question would be inconclusive without further data.

The third consideration is the demand for rental properties. In ZIP 26369, 18.8% of residents are renters, and the days on market (DOM) is also listed as N/A. This percentage indicates a moderate level of rental demand. However, the lack of DOM data makes it difficult to assess how quickly properties are being rented out.

Based on these considerations, the decision tree looks as follows:

If the FMR of $1,060 clears the debt service on a $88,647 property, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, buying in this ZIP code for Section 8 is financially unfeasible.
If market rent is above the FMR, it suggests strong market demand, making Section 8 properties attractive. If it's at or below the FMR, the attractiveness of Section 8 properties diminishes.
If the rental demand is high enough, indicated by a low DOM, then the 18.8% of renters could sustain a Section 8 portfolio. With DOM data missing, it depends on other local market indicators to gauge demand.

To conclude, a landlord should only consider buying in ZIP 26369 if the FMR sufficiently covers debt service and there's evidence of market rents being higher than the FMR. The moderate rental rate of 18.8% requires additional local market analysis to ensure sufficient demand exists.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). 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.