Location: Baxter County, AR | Metro: Baxter County, AR
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $760 |
| 1 Bedroom | $760 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,310 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,310 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,520 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,702 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $1,838 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $1,930 |
The Section 8 housing analysis for ZIP code 72659 focuses on the discrepancy between the Fair Market Rent (FMR) and the actual market rent. The FMR for the metro area for fiscal year 2026 is set at $960. However, the market rent for the same period is listed as N/A, indicating that there is insufficient data to determine an accurate figure.
In the absence of a specific market rent figure, it's important to understand the implications of the FMR alone. In Unknown, AR, where the median home value and median income are also listed as N/A, landlords must rely on the FMR to guide their rental pricing strategies. This means that if the actual market rent is higher than the FMR, landlords could face a significant financial gap when renting to voucher holders. For example, if the market rent were hypothetically $1,200, the gap would be $240, representing a 25% discount from the market rate. This scenario would increase the cost of housing for voucher tenants below open-market rates, potentially reducing the landlord's income by a quarter.
Conversely, if the market rent is lower than the FMR, the situation presents a yield opportunity for landlords. Voucher tenants would then provide a steady and often higher-than-market rental income, which can be particularly attractive given the lack of detailed local economic indicators such as the percentage of renters, median home value, and median income. In such a case, landlords could see an increased cash flow relative to other local rental properties.
The key takeaway is that without specific market rent data, the FMR of $960 serves as a baseline for understanding potential rental income from voucher tenants. Landlords should carefully consider the broader economic context of Unknown, AR, and the specific dynamics of the rental market in ZIP 72659 to make informed decisions about participating in the Section 8 program.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027).
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.