Real Estate Investing in Little Rock, Arkansas (72209)

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

Pulaski County • Population: 33,200 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 72209 (Little Rock, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

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

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Little Rock, AR (72209)?

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.
5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $113,870
Avg Monthly Rent $1,222
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $40,161
% Renters 54.7%

Market Analysis: 72209 Little Rock

Investors scanning Little Rock, AR for forced-equity plays often land on the 72209 ZIP. A an appealing option for entry near $114K pairs with rents of $1,222/mo to widen the renovation window.

In 72209, the deal is made on the buy and on the capex. robust entry prices of $114K leave room in the budget for light-to-medium renovation, with rent lift to match.

In Pulaski County, 72209 is part of the operational map, not the passive one. The spread between median price and renovated comp reflects the work available.

Demographically, 72209 is a working ZIP — not a luxury market. That profile is exactly what value-add operators need in order to price their renovated product correctly.

The strategy in 72209 is forced equity, not market equity. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices are accommodating at $114K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Little Rock:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,222/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
73 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 72209

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
9.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$35,045/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $87,283 $1,090 9.0% +7.4% $43,642
3BR $115,844 $1,460 9.1% +6.2% $38,615
4BR $140,182 $1,730 8.9% +6.0% $35,045

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$121K$109K$97K$86K$74K$62KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,280$1,174$1,067$961$854$748May 2020Jul 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72209 Compare?

Metric 72209 Little Rock Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Arkansas
Home Value $113,870 $268,834 N/A $216,341
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 3.8% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,222 $1,226 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.4% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 72209? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,222/mo on homes averaging $113,870 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

55% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 72209 (Little Rock, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 72209 (Little Rock, AR)?

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

Property managers serving Pulaski County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Solid Rock Property Management, LLC offers professional and affordable property management services for Central Arkansas, focusing on excellent customer service. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.4%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $113,870
Monthly Rent $1,222
Price-to-Rent 7.8:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.9%
Cap Rate 8.4%
5-Year IRR 10.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +18.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.4%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
12.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72209

Population: 33,200

💰 Median Household Income
$40,161
This area
$40,161
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.7%
This area
54.7%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.3 years
This area
31.3 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 62.7%
White 22.8%
Other/Mixed 14.3%
Hispanic/Latino 12.2%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
31.3%
This area
31.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.3%
This area
9.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.2%
This area
23.2%
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

🎓 Schools in 72209

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
18.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,986 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

CLOVERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
655 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B+ Above Average

EXALT ACADEMY OF SOUTHWEST LITTLE ROCK

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
749 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,788 Per Student
B+ Above Average

OTTER CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WATSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B+ Above Average

BASELINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B Good

GEYER SPRINGS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,987 Per Student
B Good

ARKANSAS MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS ACADEMY (AMFRA)

📚 09 – 10 High School Charter
👥
80 Students
👨‍🏫
6.6:1 Class Size
B Good

THE EXCEL CENTER

📚 Grade UG Elementary Charter
👥
181 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$34,208 Per Student
C+ Average

METROPOLITAN CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$15,987 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

GRADUATE ARKANSAS CHARTER HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
490 Students
👨‍🏫
41.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,957 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 1,664 Off-Campus Students
D
Arkansas Beauty School-Little Rock
111 students · 0.6 mi
C+
Washington Barber College Inc
51 students · 0.7 mi
B
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
8,158 students · 3.0 mi
D
GoodFellas Barber College
34 students · 3.2 mi
C
Baptist Health College Little Rock
512 students · 4.4 mi
C
Arkansas Baptist College
373 students · 4.7 mi
C
Velvatex College of Beauty Culture
12 students · 4.8 mi
C
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3,275 students · 4.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,664 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Little Rock, AR?

House hacking in Little Rock, AR is reasonable to execute. Prices around $114K and rents of $1,222/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much rent can I charge in Little Rock, AR?

Rental rates in Little Rock, AR average $1,222/mo. Tenant demand and $114K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does BRRRR pencil out in Little Rock, AR?

BRRRR viability in Little Rock, AR is a strong. Disciplined acquisition and rehab can hit the 75% LTV refinance target at market comps.

Is Little Rock, AR a 1% rule market?

The median property in Little Rock, AR ($114K at $1,222/mo rent) a 1.07% rent-to-price figure. Pure 1% deals require disciplined offer pricing.

Is Little Rock, AR better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors who focus on value-add and BRRRR deals typically do well in Little Rock, AR. The numbers - $114K homes against $1,222/mo rents - support that play.

You know 72209 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 72209 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

How 72209 ranks in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 72209 (Little Rock)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 72209 (Little Rock, AR).

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