Location: Waushara County, WI | Metro: Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $820 |
| 1 Bedroom | $850 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,080 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,450 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,490 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,728 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,935 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,090 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,195 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
The market analysis for Section 8 investors in ZIP code 54986, which encompasses Winneconne, WI, and parts of Winnebago and Waushara Counties, reveals a favorable rental environment. The HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 54986 in fiscal year 2024 is set at $910, whereas the market rent, based on Census ACS data, stands at $867. This indicates that properties rented to voucher tenants will cashflow positively at the FMR rate, providing a margin of $43 per unit above the average market rent.
To further analyze the investment potential, consider the median home value in the area, which is $346,084. Using the HUD FMR of $910, we can calculate the rent-to-price ratio, which comes out to approximately 1.05%. This ratio suggests that the rental income generated from a property would be about 1.05% of its purchase price, indicating a reasonable return on investment relative to the cost of acquiring a property.
While the median Days on Market (DOM) and the percentage of price cuts are not available, these metrics typically play a role in understanding the rent-versus-buy dynamics. In their absence, it's important to focus on the strong positive cashflow potential, which is a key indicator for investors looking to generate consistent rental income.
The strongest angle for investors in this market is cashflow. With a guaranteed rental income through the Section 8 program exceeding the local market rent, investors can expect steady returns without the need to rely on property appreciation or market stability alone.
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.