Location: Stone County, AR | Metro: Baxter County, AR
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $670 |
| 1 Bedroom | $700 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $920 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,230 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,250 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,450 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,624 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $1,754 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $1,842 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 72617 for Section 8 purposes, follow this decision tree based on the provided data.
1) Does the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $890 cover the debt service on a property?
If the N/A figure for debt service is lower than $890, then the answer is yes. This means that the rental income from a Section 8 tenant can meet your financial obligations. If it's higher, the answer is no, as the FMR would not be sufficient to cover your expenses.
2) Is the market rent above, at, or below the FMR?
The market rent is listed as N/A. If it were above $890, landlords could potentially earn more by renting to non-Section 8 tenants. If it were at or below $890, Section 8 would be competitive or more attractive.
3) Are 4.0% of the residents renters and with a N/A-day Days On Market (DOM) enough demand?
With only 4.0% of residents being renters, the demand for rental properties is relatively low. The DOM figure is N/A, but generally, a lower DOM indicates higher demand. If the DOM is high, it suggests there is less urgency among potential tenants to secure housing, which might mean slower turnover rates and potentially more vacancies.
Decision branches:
Yes: If the debt service is covered by the FMR, the market rent is at or below FMR, and the DOM is sufficiently low to indicate strong demand despite the low percentage of renters, then buying in ZIP 72617 for Section 8 is advisable.
No: If any of these conditions are not met—specifically, if the debt service exceeds $890, the market rent is significantly higher than FMR, or the DOM is high—then purchasing in this area is not recommended for Section 8 investment.
It depends: If the market rent is close to the FMR and the DOM is moderate, then the decision hinges on your risk tolerance and the specifics of the property in question. Consider the location, condition, and potential for rental increases before making a final decision.
Note: Due to missing data points, some decisions cannot be made definitively without additional information on debt service and DOM figures.
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.