Winston Salem, NC Rental Market for Investors
An estimated 65% of Winston Salem'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 Winston Salem that pencil right now
A sample of active Winston 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.
$160,000DSCR 1.632 bed · 2 bath · 1,081 sqft
- STR revenue
- $23,976/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $982/mo
On the market 47 days · Listed by Real Broker LLC
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Winston Salem
$205,000DSCR 1.593 bed · 2 bath · 1,140 sqft
- STR revenue
- $29,971/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,255/mo
On the market 89 days · Listed by Hall Realty Results
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Winston Salem
$215,000DSCR 1.333 bed · 2 bath · 1,252 sqft
- STR revenue
- $25,518/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,278/mo
On the market 211 days · Listed by Carolina Home Partners by eXp Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Winston Salem
$255,900DSCR 1.463 bed · 2 bath · 1,173 sqft
- STR revenue
- $30,596/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,397/mo
On the market 88 days · Listed by KB Realty
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Winston Salem
$274,900DSCR 1.293 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,622 sqft
- STR revenue
- $32,081/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $1,656/mo
On the market 157 days · Listed by Allen Tate Realtors-Oak Ridge
Scout this home & market: 3-bed house in Winston Salem
$319,000DSCR 1.252 bed · 2.5 bath · 1,295 sqft
- STR revenue
- $42,478/yr
- Est. interest-only payment
- $2,261/mo
On the market 13 days · Listed by Onyx Realty Group LLC
Scout this home & market: 2-bed condo in Winston Salem
As of August 2026, we analyzed 798 active for-sale homes in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The typical listing is priced at $320,000 and is projected to generate about $33,018 a year as a short-term rental.
After setting aside an estimated 20% for operating costs, an estimated 65.2% of those homes could still cover an investor mortgage payment on short-term-rental income — well above the 52.5% median across the 200 major metros we track, ranking Winston Salem #46 of 200 for cash-flow potential.
On market momentum: homes in Winston Salem sit a median of 54 days on the market, and 30% 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 — that's a relatively healthy setup: in Winston Salem, a meaningful share of listings throw off enough short-term-rental income, after costs, to cover an estimated investor mortgage payment.
What actually works in Winston Salem
Winston Salem works for investors, but the window is specific: 236 of the 641 Winston Salem homes, condos and townhomes we can price confidently clear a DSCR of 1.25. Nine in ten of them are priced under $336,000.
| Price | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150k–$250k | 69%1.34 | 87%1.53 | 90%1.79 | — |
| $250k–$350k | 10%0.96 | 40%1.19 | 40%1.19 | — |
| $350k–$500k | — | 4%0.90 | 15%0.98 | 56%1.26 |
| $500k+ | — | 0%0.64 | 3%0.73 | 7%0.59 |
Darker means a larger share of that group cash-flows. “—” means fewer than 8 active listings — too few to draw a conclusion from.
Winston Salem in full
| Active for-sale homes analyzed | 798 |
|---|---|
| Median list price | $320,000 |
| Median projected STR revenue (annual, gross) | $33,018 |
| Median average daily rate (ADR) | $165 |
| Median occupancy | 56% |
| Median beds | 3 |
| Median size | 1,800 sqft |
| Estimated cash-flow-positive share | 65.2% |
| Median days on market | 54 days |
| New listings (last 30 days) | 29.8% of active |
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Estimates for educational purposes. Final terms subject to credit, property & program approval.
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