Scottsdale, AZ Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 30% of Scottsdale's active listings could cash-flow as a short-term rental — here's what the numbers say for investors, as of October 2026.
Homes in Scottsdale that pencil right now
A sample of active Scottsdale 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 October 2026.
$165,000DSCR 1.531 bed · 1 bath · 519 sqft
- STR revenue
- $30,675/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,336/mo
On the market 136 days · Listed by Y Realty Arizona LLC
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Scottsdale
$245,000DSCR 1.421 bed · 1 bath · 702 sqft
- STR revenue
- $36,869/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,734/mo
On the market 135 days · Listed by Realty One Group
Scout this home & market: 1-bed condo in Scottsdale
$265,000DSCR 1.352 bed · 2 bath · 1,200 sqft
- STR revenue
- $47,058/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,329/mo
On the market 95 days · Listed by Homeqwik
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Scottsdale
$325,000DSCR 1.973 bed · 2 bath · 1,107 sqft
- STR revenue
- $63,596/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,152/mo
On the market 303 days · Listed by Realty ONE Group
Scout this home & market: 3-bed townhouse in Scottsdale
$580,000DSCR 1.664 bed · 2 bath · 1,710 sqft
- STR revenue
- $82,762/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $3,316/mo
On the market 54 days · Listed by Realty One Group
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Scottsdale
As of October 2026, we analyzed 1,918 active for-sale homes in Scottsdale, Arizona. The typical listing is priced at $899,000 and is projected to generate about $65,944 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 29.6% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — below the 53.1% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Scottsdale #170 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Scottsdale sit a median of 53 days on the market, and 32% 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 — Scottsdale 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.
Before you buy a rental in Scottsdale
Official sources checked .
Check the license for the exact property
Scottsdale requires an annual city license for each property rented for less than 30 days, in addition to state and county requirements. The city's short-term rental resource center lets buyers check license status. Confirm the steps for your ownership and operating setup before relying on a seller's existing rental listing. Scottsdale licensing and rental resource center.
Inspect the pool setup before setting a budget
Scottsdale has specific barrier requirements for short-term rentals with a pool, hot tub, or spa. Have the existing setup checked against the city's requirements and price any work before closing. Include recurring pool service in the property's operating budget when comparing it with a home without a pool. Scottsdale owner and operator requirements.
Assign the insurance and neighbor-contact work
The city requires at least $500,000 in liability coverage, directly or through a lodging marketplace, and neighbor notification with emergency contact details. Ask your insurer what the policy covers and your manager who will handle those contacts. Use actual quotes and management terms when testing the projected income. Scottsdale owner and operator requirements.
Compare Phoenix. Use Phoenix as another price and income comparison, with a separate check of its permit and ADU requirements.
Bring a property and your rental plan to the team to review the financing assumptions.
What actually works in Scottsdale
Cash-flow is the exception rather than the rule in Scottsdale right now: 203 of the 1,504 Scottsdale homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $897,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 64%1.36 | 83%1.51 | — | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 19%0.96 | 15%1.05 | — | — | — |
| $350k–$500k | 0%0.78 | 1%0.84 | 71%1.50 | — | — |
| $500k+ | 0%0.56 | 1%0.51 | 10%0.83 | 14%0.82 | 11%0.81 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Scottsdale in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 1,918 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $899,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $65,944 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $281 |
| Median occupancy | 63% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 2,041 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 29.6% |
| Median days on market | 53 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 32.4% of active |
As a user of this system, you agree to all Scout Terms & Conditions and Home & Mortgage Conditions.
Would a Scottsdale rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
Pre-filled with Scottsdale'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 Scottsdale?
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.