Is Fairfax County, VA good for real estate investing?

Fairfax County has an investment score of 44/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #907 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Fairfax?

The rent-to-price ratio in Fairfax County is 3.92% annually, which ranks in the 5th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Fairfax?

The median home price in Fairfax County is $746,934. This ranks #986 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Fairfax?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Fairfax County would generate negative cash flow of $2,329/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Fairfax County

VirginiaPopulation: 1,145,354

/100

Avoid

#907 of 1,000 counties

#129 in Virginia (133 counties)

Market Snapshot

$746,934

Median Home Price

226% above national median

$2,441/mo

Median Rent

79% above national median

3.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 95% nationally

-$2,329

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$746,934

Down Payment (20%)$149,387

Loan Amount$597,547

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,441

Monthly P&I-$3,915

Est. Expenses (35%)-$854

Net Cash Flow-$2,329/mo

2.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-16.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

3.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

44/100

Cash Flow(30%)

29/100

Based on 3.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

50/100

Based on 0.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

53/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (3.92%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$2,329/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 2.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

1,145,354

Median Income

$145,165

vs $51,665 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

5.1x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
Fairfax CityVA	46	$755,224	$2,447	3.89%	Hold	View
AccomackVA	46	$235,246	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
FranklinVA	45	$345,385	$1,033	3.59%	Hold	View
Charlottesville CityVA	45	$473,135	$2,057	5.22%	Hold	View
CurrentFairfaxVA	44	$746,934	$2,441	3.92%	Avoid
CarrollVA	43	$167,341	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidFairfax may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Fairfax County in Virginia scores 44/100, ranking #907 of 1,000 US counties (top 91%). The 3.92% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-2,329/mo

Cap Rate

2.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-16.3%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Fairfax?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$746,934

Down Payment (20%)$149,387

Loan Amount$597,547

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,441

Monthly P&I-$3,915

Est. Expenses (35%)-$854

Net Cash Flow-$2,329/mo

2.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-16.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

3.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

44/100

Cash Flow(30%)

29/100

Based on 3.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

50/100

Based on 0.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

53/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
Fairfax CityVA	46	$755,224	$2,447	3.89%	Hold	View
AccomackVA	46	$235,246	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
FranklinVA	45	$345,385	$1,033	3.59%	Hold	View
Charlottesville CityVA	45	$473,135	$2,057	5.22%	Hold	View
CurrentFairfaxVA	44	$746,934	$2,441	3.92%	Avoid
CarrollVA	43	$167,341	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidFairfax may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-2,329/mo

Cap Rate

2.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-16.3%