West Virginia Rental Portfolio Guide
What you need to know before building or growing a rental portfolio in West Virginia — property tax burden, state income tax, security-deposit rule, source-of-income law, and the metros that actually cash-flow after accounting for local taxes.
Tax burden on West Virginia rentals
Property tax
0.55%
effective rate on median home value
At 0.55% effective, this is one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country (rank 4 of 51). Portfolio holding costs stay low even in appreciating markets — a big structural advantage for long-term holds.
State income tax
4.82%
top marginal rate
A top marginal rate of 4.82% is moderate. Portfolio income above the federal deduction stack still faces this rate on top of federal, so tax-optimized holding structures (installment sales, 1031s, cost-segregation) matter more here than in no-tax states.
Security deposit rule
No statutory cap on security deposits. Landlords set the deposit at whatever the market accepts — typically one to two months' rent, sometimes more for higher-risk applicants or pets. Local ordinances may still apply.
Deposit rules change; verify current statute before drafting a lease.
Best cash-flow markets in West Virginia
Modeled monthly cash flow on a median-priced single-family purchase at 20% down, 30-year fixed, using West Virginia’s 0.55% effective property tax rate plus 25% of rent for insurance, maintenance, vacancy and management.
| Market | Median price | Median rent | Annual property tax | CF / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | $148,817 | $1,265 | $818 | $101 |
| Clarksburg, WV | $157,771 | $1,157 | $868 | $-32 |
| Beckley, WV | $149,420 | $1,025 | $822 | $-83 |
| Fairmont, WV | $169,410 | $1,148 | $932 | $-105 |
| Wheeling, WV | $141,852 | $938 | $780 | $-105 |
| Huntington, WV | $166,506 | $1,094 | $916 | $-128 |
State median across the metros: $153,596 home, $1,059 rent, $-116/mo modeled cash flow.
Track your West Virginia rental portfolio
The Pro Portfolio Tracker rolls up every property in your portfolio, auto-revalues them monthly against local price data, and flags DSCR risk and equity milestones. Each West Virginia property carries the state-specific tax burden shown above through to the cash flow calculation.
Property tax rate: Tax Foundation. Security deposit rule: state statute. Verify current law before making decisions — statutes change and this page is a planning reference, not legal or tax advice.