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Metrics Explained

Deep dive into every metric we track and how each impacts your investment decisions.

Overall

Investability Score

Range: 0-100

Our proprietary AI-powered score that combines 15+ factors into a single investment potential rating. Higher scores indicate markets with stronger fundamentals for rental investing.

Why It Matters: Saves hours of research by instantly comparing markets on what matters most to investors.
Target: 85+
Population growth Job growth Rent yields Vacancy rates Safety Landlord laws
Overall

Market Grade

Range: A to F

A letter grade based on the Investability Score. Grade A markets (85-100) have the strongest fundamentals; Grade F markets (below 40) have significant risks.

Why It Matters: Quick visual filter to focus on the best opportunities and avoid problem markets.
Target: A or B
Derived from Investability Score
Demographics

Population Growth

Range: -5% to +5%

Year-over-year percentage change in market population. Positive growth indicates people moving into an area, increasing rental demand.

Why It Matters: Growing populations mean more renters, lower vacancies, and potential rent increases.
Target: 1.5%+ YoY
Census data 5-year trends
Economy

Job Growth

Range: -10% to +10%

Year-over-year percentage change in employment within the market. Strong job growth attracts workers who need housing.

Why It Matters: Jobs bring renters. Markets with declining employment often see rising vacancies.
Target: 2%+ YoY
BLS data Major employers Industry diversity
Returns

Rent Yield

Range: 2% to 12%

Annual rent as a percentage of median home price. Higher yields indicate potentially better cash flow opportunities.

Why It Matters: Quick way to assess if rents are reasonable relative to property prices in a market.
Target: 6%+
Median rent Median home price
Market Health

Vacancy Rate

Range: 0% to 20%

Percentage of rental units sitting empty. Lower vacancy rates indicate strong rental demand and lower risk of income gaps.

Why It Matters: High vacancies mean trouble filling units, longer turnovers, and potential rent decreases.
Target: Under 6%
Census rental vacancy Market supply/demand
Affordability

Median Home Price

Range: $50K to $2M+

The midpoint home price in the market. Determines your entry point and affects financing options.

Why It Matters: Lower prices mean lower barriers to entry but may indicate weaker appreciation potential.
Target: Depends on strategy
MLS data Zillow/Redfin Price trends
Quality of Life

Safety Score

Range: 0-100

Composite score based on crime rates, including property crime and violent crime per capita.

Why It Matters: Safer areas attract quality tenants, have lower turnover, and appreciate better.
Target: 60+
FBI crime data Local police reports
Regulations

Landlord Friendliness

Range: 0-100

Score measuring how favorable state/local laws are for property owners, including eviction timelines and rent control.

Why It Matters: Tenant-friendly laws can make evictions costly and time-consuming.
Target: 70+
Eviction timeline Rent control Security deposit rules Lease requirements
Expenses

Property Tax Rate

Range: 0.2% to 3%+

Effective property tax rate as a percentage of property value. A major ongoing expense that affects cash flow.

Why It Matters: High taxes can eat into returns. A 2% difference on a $300K property is $6,000/year.
Target: Under 1.5%
State/county rates Assessment practices