Real Estate Investing in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas (72088)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Van Buren County • Population: 2,264 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 72088 (Fairfield Bay, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 33.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Fairfield Bay, AR (72088)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $145,180
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,257
% Renters 13.1%

Market Analysis: 72088 Fairfield Bay

ZIP 72088 in Fairfield Bay, AR carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $145K and rents of $792/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $145K asset, 72088 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within AR, ZIP 72088 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Van Buren County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 72088 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 72088, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Fairfield Bay:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 72088

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$57,799/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $115,597 $880 5.5% +10.9% $57,799
3BR $212,383 $1,180 4.0% +10.1% $70,794

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$154K$137K$120K$103K$86K$68KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72088 Compare?

Metric 72088 Fairfield Bay Arkansas
Home Value $145,180 $145,180 $216,341
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% 5.7%
Avg Rent $792 $792 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 72088? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 72088 (Fairfield Bay, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 72088 (Fairfield Bay, AR)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $145,180
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 15.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
33.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72088

Population: 2,264

💰 Median Household Income
$58,257
This area
$58,257
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.1%
This area
13.1%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.1%
This area
34.1%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
68.2 years
This area
68.2 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.1%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
4.5%
This area
4.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
56.3%
This area
56.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Fairfield Bay, AR?

Expect rents around $792/mo per month in Fairfield Bay, AR. With home values at $145K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What type of investing works in Fairfield Bay, AR?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Fairfield Bay, AR best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $145K price point.

Are there empty rentals in Fairfield Bay, AR?

Vacancy in Fairfield Bay, AR is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $792/mo.

Is AR a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Fairfield Bay, AR is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How much does a house cost in Fairfield Bay, AR?

Homes in Fairfield Bay, AR typically sell near $145K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which stable long-term demand.

You know 72088 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 72088 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 72088 (Fairfield Bay)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 72088 (Fairfield Bay, AR).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.