Sacramento, CA Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 33% of Sacramento'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 Sacramento that pencil right now
A sample of active Sacramento 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.
$149,900DSCR 1.451 bed · 1 bath · 688 sqft
- STR revenue
- $34,602/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,594/mo
On the market 241 days · Listed by JTS Realty
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Sacramento
$180,000DSCR 1.311 bed · 1 bath · 760 sqft
- STR revenue
- $33,246/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,688/mo
On the market 94 days · Listed by Windermere Signature Properties - Downtown
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Sacramento
$199,000DSCR 1.351 bed · 1 bath · 844 sqft
- STR revenue
- $31,959/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,580/mo
On the market 289 days · Listed by Nick Sadek Sotheby's International Realty
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Sacramento
$265,000DSCR 1.272 bed · 2 bath · 1,100 sqft
- STR revenue
- $40,904/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,143/mo
On the market 23 days · Listed by Coldwell Banker Realty
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Sacramento
$325,000DSCR 1.313 bed · 1.5 bath · 1,323 sqft
- STR revenue
- $45,409/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,314/mo
On the market 87 days · Listed by Armon Batiste, Broker
Scout this home & market: 3-bed townhouse in Sacramento
$349,900DSCR 1.273 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,477 sqft
- STR revenue
- $53,278/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,808/mo
On the market 47 days · Listed by Prime Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Sacramento
$359,900DSCR 1.323 bed · 1.5 bath · 1,029 sqft
- STR revenue
- $44,473/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,253/mo
On the market 53 days · Listed by Redfin Corporation
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Sacramento
$399,000DSCR 1.374 bed · 2 bath · 1,290 sqft
- STR revenue
- $51,325/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,497/mo
On the market 5 days · Listed by The Agency
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Sacramento
$430,000DSCR 1.263 bed · 2 bath · 1,191 sqft
- STR revenue
- $50,826/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,691/mo
On the market 76 days · Listed by Sonja Johnson
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Sacramento
As of August 2026, we analyzed 1,563 active for-sale homes in Sacramento, California. The typical listing is priced at $537,000 and is projected to generate about $46,704 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 33.3% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Sacramento #162 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Sacramento sit a median of 42 days on the market, and 36% 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 — Sacramento 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 Sacramento
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Sacramento right now: 110 of the 1,267 Sacramento homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $431,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 41%1.23 | 67%1.30 | — | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 0%0.92 | 9%1.00 | 59%1.27 | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | — | 1%0.87 | 6%1.01 | 28%1.13 | — |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.60 | 0%0.80 | 1%0.81 | 0%0.75 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Sacramento in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 1,563 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $537,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $46,704 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $208 |
| Median occupancy | 62% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,636 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 33.3% |
| Median days on market | 42 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 36.3% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Sacramento rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Sacramento'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 Sacramento?
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.