Is Roanoke City, VA good for real estate investing?

Roanoke City has an investment score of 66/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #191 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Roanoke City?

The rent-to-price ratio in Roanoke City is 6.97% annually, which ranks in the 75th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Roanoke City?

The median home price in Roanoke City is $214,039. This ranks #409 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Roanoke City?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Roanoke City would generate negative cash flow of $314/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Roanoke City

VirginiaPopulation: 99,213

/100

Buy

#191 of 1,000 counties

#27 in Virginia (133 counties)

Market Snapshot

$214,039

Median Home Price

8% below national median

$1,243/mo

Median Rent

18% below national median

6.97%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 25% nationally

-$314

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$214,039

Down Payment (20%)$42,808

Loan Amount$171,231

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,243

Monthly P&I-$1,122

Est. Expenses (35%)-$435

Net Cash Flow-$314/mo

4.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-7.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.97%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.5% 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

66/100

Cash Flow(30%)

70/100

Based on 6.97% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

74/100

Based on 2.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

68/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.2x. 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

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (6.97%)
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$314/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

99,213

Median Income

$51,523

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

4.2x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentRoanoke CityVA	66	$214,039	$1,243	6.97%	Buy
MecklenburgVA	64	$198,731	$1,484	8.96%	Buy	View
RoanokeVA	64	$325,167	$1,582	5.84%	Buy	View
RockbridgeVA	63	$316,023	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
RockinghamVA	63	$351,766	$1,863	6.35%	Buy	View
AugustaVA	62	$348,578	$1,589	5.47%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyRoanoke City offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Roanoke City in Virginia scores 66/100, ranking #191 of 1,000 US counties (top 25%). The 6.97% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-314/mo

Cap Rate

4.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-7.7%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Roanoke City?

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$214,039

Down Payment (20%)$42,808

Loan Amount$171,231

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,243

Monthly P&I-$1,122

Est. Expenses (35%)-$435

Net Cash Flow-$314/mo

4.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-7.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.97%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.5% 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

66/100

Cash Flow(30%)

70/100

Based on 6.97% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

74/100

Based on 2.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

68/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.2x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

CurrentRoanoke CityVA

$214,039

$1,243

6.97%

Buy

MecklenburgVA

$198,731

$1,484

8.96%

Buy

View

RoanokeVA

$325,167

$1,582

5.84%

Buy

View

RockbridgeVA

$316,023

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

RockinghamVA

$351,766

$1,863

6.35%

Buy

View

AugustaVA

$348,578

$1,589

5.47%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyRoanoke City offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-314/mo

Cap Rate

4.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-7.7%