Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 78839 - 2027

Location: Zavala County, TX | Metro: Dimmit County, TX

Investment Score for ZIP 78839

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,040

Median Price (2BR)

$73,260

1% Rule

1.42%

Annual Yield

17.04%

Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$790
1 Bedroom	$830
2 Bedrooms	$1,040
3 Bedrooms	$1,340
4 Bedrooms	$1,500
5 Bedrooms	$1,740
6 Bedrooms	$1,949
7 Bedrooms	$2,105
8 Bedrooms	$2,210

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$1,040	$73,260	1.42%	A
3BR	$1,340	$104,905	1.28%	A

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

7,091

Median Household Income

$37,365

Housing Units

3,028

Renter Percentage

31.8%

Occupancy Rate

84.0%

Renter Occupied

810

If a landlord is considering investing in ZIP code 78839 (Crystal City, TX) for Section 8 properties, the following decision tree can guide their investment strategy:

Step 1: Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for Crystal City, TX, as of metro FY 2026, is $970. To determine if this FMR clears the debt service on a property valued at $87,134, calculate the DSCR. A DSCR of less than 1 indicates that the rental income does not cover the mortgage payments.

Step 2: Market Rent Comparison

The Census ACS reports the average market rent for Crystal City, TX, to be $519. This figure is significantly below the FMR of $970, suggesting that landlords could potentially receive higher rents through Section 8 vouchers compared to the local market rate.

Step 3: Rental Demand Assessment

In Crystal City, TX, 31.8% of the population are renters. However, the data provided indicates that the days on market (DOM) for rentals is listed as N/A, which means there's insufficient information to evaluate how quickly properties are rented out. The percentage of renters alone does not provide a complete picture of demand.

Decision Tree Outcome

If the DSCR is greater than 1, indicating that the $970 FMR covers the debt service on a $87,134 property, then the answer is Yes. This scenario suggests that the property is financially viable under Section 8.
If the DSCR is less than 1, meaning the $970 FMR does not cover the debt service on a $87,134 property, then the answer is No. In this case, the landlord would struggle to make ends meet with Section 8 tenants.
If the DSCR is exactly 1, then the answer is It Depends. Landlords need to consider other factors such as maintenance costs, vacancy rates, and potential for appreciation.

The market rent being below the FMR supports the viability of Section 8 investments, as landlords can expect to receive higher rents through the voucher program. However, the lack of DOM data complicates the assessment of rental demand. Without knowing how quickly units are typically rented, it's challenging to gauge the level of interest in Crystal City, TX.

To make an informed decision, landlords must first verify the DSCR based on the $970 FMR and the $87,134 property value. Then, they should consider the favorable comparison between market rent and FMR, but also seek additional information about the rental market dynamics, including DOM data, to fully assess the demand.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-08-31). 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.