Tampa, FL Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 55% of Tampa'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 Tampa that pencil right now
A sample of active Tampa 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.
$200,000DSCR 1.802 bed · 1 bath · 912 sqft
- STR revenue
- $35,072/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,299/mo
On the market 84 days · Listed by Century 21 Executive Team
Scout this home & market: 2-bed house in Tampa
$274,000DSCR 1.273 bed · 1 bath · 1,088 sqft
- STR revenue
- $32,761/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,725/mo
On the market 80 days · Listed by LPT REALTY LLC
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Tampa
$430,000DSCR 1.364 bed · 2 bath · 1,801 sqft
- STR revenue
- $60,576/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,974/mo
On the market 255 days · Listed by Smith & Associates
Scout this home & market: 4-bed house in Tampa
As of October 2026, we analyzed 3,014 active for-sale homes in Tampa, Florida. The typical listing is priced at $449,990 and is projected to generate about $49,535 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 54.9% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — roughly in line with the 53.1% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Tampa #91 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Tampa sit a median of 71 days on the market, and 24% of active listings came on in just the last 30 days — a slower-moving 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 — that's a relatively healthy setup: in Tampa, a meaningful share of listings throw off enough short-term-rental income, after costs, to cover an estimated investor mortgage payment.
Before you buy a rental in Tampa
Official sources checked .
Establish which jurisdiction controls the rental use
Tampa's zoning map shows city limits, zoning districts, and overlay districts, with lookup by address or property tax folio. Start there, then ask Development Coordination to confirm the planned rental use and length of stay. A Tampa mailing address alone is not enough to choose the applicable rules. City of Tampa zoning maps and planning contacts.
Look up both flood and evacuation zones
Tampa distinguishes flood zones from hurricane evacuation zones. A home outside an evacuation zone can still have significant flood risk, and a lower-risk flood zone can still require early evacuation. Check both maps for each candidate and include guest communication and storm preparation in the management plan. Tampa flood and evacuation zone guidance.
Get property-specific insurance information
The city offers flood-map information for individual properties. Use that information when obtaining insurance quotes, and ask about coverage, deductibles, and the planned rental use. Replace broad market cost assumptions with those quotes before comparing two homes with similar prices and projected revenue. Tampa property flood information.
Compare St. Petersburg. Compare the two markets' numbers, then repeat the zoning and flood checks for the specific property on the other side of the bay.
Bring a property and your rental plan to the team to review the financing assumptions.
What actually works in Tampa
Tampa works for investors, but the window is specific: 679 of the 2,423 Tampa homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $491,000.
| Price | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $150k | — | 77%1.42 | — | — | — |
| $150k–$250k | 9%1.02 | 54%1.28 | 95%1.64 | — | — |
| $250k–$350k | 0%0.78 | 21%1.04 | 59%1.29 | 84%1.59 | — |
| $350k–$500k | 8%0.70 | 1%0.89 | 26%1.11 | 51%1.25 | 95%1.69 |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.51 | 1%0.77 | 7%0.75 | 15%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.
Tampa in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 3,014 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $449,990 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $49,535 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $220 |
| Median occupancy | 61% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,620 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 54.9% |
| Median days on market | 71 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 24.4% of active |
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Would a Tampa rental qualify for a DSCR loan?
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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 Tampa?
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.