Raleigh, NC Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 50% of Raleigh's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.
Homes in Raleigh that pencil right now
A sample of active Raleigh listings whose DSCR clears 1.25 using short-term rental income projections we accept as a direct lender. These are spread across the price range, not ranked, and current as of August 2026.
$159,000DSCR 1.822 bed · 2 bath · 1,012 sqft
- STR revenue
- $34,515/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,263/mo
On the market 210 days · Listed by Results Realty of Raleigh
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Raleigh
$225,000DSCR 1.543 bed · 2 bath · 1,054 sqft
- STR revenue
- $43,239/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,868/mo
On the market 125 days · Listed by Keller Williams Legacy
Scout this home & market: 3-bed condo in Raleigh
$248,900DSCR 1.282 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,300 sqft
- STR revenue
- $32,397/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,690/mo
On the market 75 days · Listed by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston North Raleigh
Scout this home & market: 2-bed townhouse in Raleigh
$260,000DSCR 1.333 bed · 2 bath · 1,900 sqft
- STR revenue
- $36,618/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,834/mo
On the market 199 days · Listed by Keller Williams Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed townhouse in Raleigh
$269,900DSCR 1.282 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,374 sqft
- STR revenue
- $35,957/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,878/mo
On the market 35 days · Listed by Dwell Raleigh Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 2-bed townhouse in Raleigh
$290,000DSCR 1.443 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,513 sqft
- STR revenue
- $39,455/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,823/mo
On the market 12 days · Listed by Opendoor Brokerage LLC
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Raleigh
$308,000DSCR 1.303 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,886 sqft
- STR revenue
- $36,800/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,890/mo
On the market 82 days · Listed by Mark Spain Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Raleigh
$319,900DSCR 1.404 bed · 3.5 bath · 2,311 sqft
- STR revenue
- $41,249/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,962/mo
On the market 28 days · Listed by Offerpad Brokerage Llc
Scout this home & market: 4-bed townhouse in Raleigh
$334,900DSCR 1.463 bed · 1.5 bath · 1,221 sqft
- STR revenue
- $46,072/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,111/mo
On the market 191 days · Listed by Costello Real Estate & Investments (TR)
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Raleigh
As of August 2026, we analyzed 2,110 active for-sale homes in Raleigh, North Carolina. The typical listing is priced at $435,000 and is projected to generate about $41,718 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 50.3% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — roughly in line with the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Raleigh #110 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Raleigh sit a median of 60 days on the market, and 27% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a steadily paced market, which shapes how much room there is to negotiate.
For a DSCR loan — which qualifies on the property's rental income rather than your personal income — Raleigh runs tighter once operating costs are accounted for: many listings need a below-median price, a stronger short-term-rental setup, or more money down before the income covers the payment. It's a market where running the numbers property-by-property matters.
What actually works in Raleigh
Raleigh works for investors, but the window is specific: 430 of the 1,778 Raleigh homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $365,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 57%1.37 | 70%1.33 | 98%1.58 | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 0%0.97 | 38%1.16 | 62%1.31 | 62%1.37 | — |
| $350k–$500k | 0%0.68 | 2%0.82 | 9%1.03 | 14%1.07 | 25%1.08 |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.60 | 0%0.70 | 3%0.67 | 4%0.57 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Raleigh in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 2,110 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $435,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $41,718 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $186 |
| Median occupancy | 60% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,939 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 50.3% |
| Median days on market | 60 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 26.8% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Raleigh rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Raleigh's median price and projected short-term-rental income — change any field to match a specific property.
Advanced
On a 5-minute call with you, we can use Scout to run real numbers on real properties.
Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
5 senior bankers · 47 statesPressure-test the market before you trust the median.
We’ll help you compare the market-level signal with the exact property, local costs, rental rules, and financing structure.
Thinking about an investment property in Raleigh?
Send the address or your target buy box. We’ll run the property with today’s assumptions.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text Chad: 858-353-8331.