Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 30517 - 2027

Location: Jackson County, GA | Metro: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area

Investment Score for ZIP 30517

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,990

Median Price (2BR)

$374,844

1% Rule

0.53%

Annual Yield

6.37%

Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$1,640
1 Bedroom	$1,780
2 Bedrooms	$1,990
3 Bedrooms	$2,380
4 Bedrooms	$3,020
5 Bedrooms	$3,503
6 Bedrooms	$3,923
7 Bedrooms	$4,237
8 Bedrooms	$4,449

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$1,990	$374,844	0.53%	F
3BR	$2,380	$365,220	0.65%	D
4BR	$3,020	$439,362	0.69%	D
5BR	$3,503	$521,361	0.67%	D

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

18,994

Median Household Income

$118,034

Housing Units

7,013

Renter Percentage

20.7%

Occupancy Rate

93.7%

Renter Occupied

1,362

To determine if you should buy a property in ZIP 30517 (Braselton, GA) for Section 8 investment, follow these steps:

Step 1: Can the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1790 cover the debt service on a $443,534 property?

No: The FMR does not clear the debt service on a property valued at $443,534. This makes it financially unviable to rely solely on Section 8 tenants for covering mortgage payments.

Step 2: How does the market rent compare to the FMR?

Market rent ($2,373 ZORI) is above FMR: The market rent exceeds the FMR, indicating that non-Section 8 tenants could potentially pay more. However, since the FMR cannot cover the debt service, this alone does not justify a purchase for Section 8 purposes.
Market rent ($2,373 ZORI) is at or below FMR: Not applicable in this case as the market rent is above the FMR.

Step 3: Is there sufficient rental demand?

Rental demand (20.7% renters + 74-day DOM): The percentage of renters is 20.7%, and the days on market (DOM) for rentals is 74 days. This suggests moderate demand but not high enough to ensure a steady stream of Section 8 tenants. Additionally, the FMR is insufficient to cover debt service, making it difficult to justify a purchase based on rental demand alone.

Conclusion: Based on the provided data, purchasing a property in ZIP 30517 for Section 8 investment is not advisable. The FMR of $1790 is too low to cover the debt service on a $443,534 property, and while the market rent of $2,373 indicates potential for higher-paying tenants, it does not change the fundamental issue with FMR coverage. The rental demand, though present, is not strong enough to offset the financial risks associated with relying on Section 8 rents to meet mortgage obligations.

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.