Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 45740 - 2027

Location: Athens County, OH | Metro: Athens County, OH

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$850
1 Bedroom	$880
2 Bedrooms	$1,000
3 Bedrooms	$1,250
4 Bedrooms	$1,350
5 Bedrooms	$1,566
6 Bedrooms	$1,754
7 Bedrooms	$1,894
8 Bedrooms	$1,989

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

311

Median Household Income

$65,417

Housing Units

171

Renter Percentage

15.7%

Occupancy Rate

81.9%

Renter Occupied

To decide whether to invest in ZIP code 45740 for Section 8 properties, follow this decision tree:

Does the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $970 clear debt service on a property?
- If the answer is yes, proceed to the next question.
- If the answer is no, do not purchase a property in this ZIP code for Section 8 purposes.
Is the market rent above, at, or below the FMR of $970?
- If market rent is above $970, then purchasing a property can be profitable if you can charge the FMR without significant vacancy risk.
- If market rent is exactly $970, consider the competition and demand before making a decision.
- If market rent is below $970, then the likelihood of covering operating costs and earning a profit decreases significantly. It depends on how much below the FMR the market rent is and the overall financial health of the property.
Are the 15.7% of renters combined with the days on market (DOM) sufficient to meet demand?
- If the DOM is low and there is strong demand, then the ZIP code could be a good investment opportunity despite the percentage of renters being relatively modest.
- If the DOM is high, indicating slow sales or rentals, then even the 15.7% of renters might not be enough to ensure steady occupancy and cash flow.

The critical analysis here hinges on the ability of the FMR to cover your debt service, the relationship between market rents and the FMR, and the balance between the percentage of renters and the speed at which properties are rented out in ZIP 45740. Without specific data on property values and debt service costs, it's challenging to provide a definitive yes or no. However, if the FMR does not sufficiently cover your debt service, the decision is clear: do not purchase. If market rents are competitive and DOM indicates strong demand, then the investment becomes more favorable.

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.