Investor market data · Oregon

Salem, OR Rental Market for Investors

An estimated 40% of Salem's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of August 2026.

See what pencils →Run a DSCR

$529,900Median list price827 active listings

$44,106Median STR revenue / yrprojected, gross

Homes in Salem that pencil right now

A sample of active Salem 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.

$239,000DSCR 1.31
3 bed · 1.5 bath · 1,171 sqft
Condo in 97302 · built 1991
STR revenue
$39,808/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$2,029/mo
On the market 9 days · Listed by Zenith Realty, Llc
Scout this home & market: 3-bed condo in Salem
$249,000DSCR 1.87
3 bed · 2 bath · 1,440 sqft
House in 97305 · built 1977
STR revenue
$42,443/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$1,517/mo
On the market 65 days · Listed by Matin Real Estate
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Salem
$249,000DSCR 1.46
3 bed · 1 bath · 1,110 sqft
House in 97301 · built 1925
STR revenue
$31,701/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$1,446/mo
On the market 132 days · Listed by HomeSmart Realty Pros
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Salem
$263,000DSCR 1.28
2 bed · 1.5 bath · 1,007 sqft
Condo in 97302 · built 1981
STR revenue
$38,780/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$2,025/mo
On the market 34 days · Listed by eXp Realty, LLC
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Salem
$299,777DSCR 1.38
3 bed · 1 bath · 1,440 sqft
House in 97302 · built 1959
STR revenue
$38,138/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$1,848/mo
On the market 5 days · Listed by eXp Realty, LLC
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Salem
$375,000DSCR 1.28
3 bed · 2 bath · 1,360 sqft
House in 97301 · built 1975
STR revenue
$43,181/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$2,251/mo
On the market 11 days · Listed by Realty One Group Willamette Valley
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Salem
$375,000DSCR 1.28
3 bed · 2 bath · 1,201 sqft
Townhouse in 97301 · built 1978
STR revenue
$42,959/yr
Est. interest-only payment
$2,238/mo
On the market 39 days · Listed by MORE Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed townhouse in Salem

Ask about Salem deals →Run any address yourself

As of August 2026, we analyzed 827 active for-sale homes in Salem, Oregon. The typical listing is priced at $529,900 and is projected to generate about $44,106 a year as a short-term rental.

After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 39.6% 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 Salem #139 of 200 for cash-flow potential.

On market momentum: homes in Salem sit a median of 54 days on the market, and 31% 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 — Salem 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 Salem

Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Salem right now: 78 of the 735 Salem homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $551,000.

Share of those listings clearing an DSCR of 1.25, by price and bedroom count. The smaller figure is the median DSCR for that group.
Price	2 bed	3 bed	4 bed	5 bed
$150k–$250k	67%1.34	—	—	—
$250k–$350k	25%1.08	45%1.23	—	—
$350k–$500k	3%0.97	12%1.06	9%1.03	100%1.48
$500k+	0%0.64	3%0.75	1%0.79	8%1.02

Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.

Salem in full

Active for-sale homes analyzed	827
Median list price	$529,900
Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross)	$44,106
Median average daily rate (ADR)	$196
Median occupancy	61%
Median beds	3
Median size	2,086 sqft
Estimated cash-flow-positive share	39.6%
Median days on market	54 days
New listings (last 30 days)	30.5% of active