Location: Flathead County, MT | Metro: Flathead County, MT
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,280 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,280 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,680 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,260 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $2,620 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $3,039 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $3,404 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $3,676 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $3,860 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if a landlord should buy in ZIP code 59932 (Somers, MT) for Section 8 purposes, follow these steps:
No. The FMR of $1,730 does not provide sufficient income to cover the typical debt service costs associated with a property of that value. Debt service for such a high-value property would likely exceed the FMR amount.
The market rent of $1,148 is below the FMR of $1,730. This suggests that properties in this area are generally rented out for less than what the government considers fair market value for Section 8 purposes.
It depends. With 33.7% of residents being renters, there is a moderate level of rental demand. However, the lack of data regarding the days on market (DOM) makes it difficult to assess how quickly rental properties are typically occupied. If the DOM is low, indicating quick occupancy, then the demand might be considered sufficient despite the lower market rent compared to the FMR.
If you answered no to Step 1, it is unlikely that investing in ZIP 59932 for Section 8 purposes will be financially viable due to the high cost of debt service relative to the rental income. Even if the market rent were to rise to meet or exceed the FMR, the initial investment would still need to be justified by other factors such as potential appreciation or non-monetary benefits.
In summary, the decision to invest in Somers, MT, for Section 8 housing hinges primarily on the financial feasibility given the current FMR and property values. The lower market rent further complicates the investment case, though strong rental demand could mitigate some of these concerns.
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.