Real Estate Investing in Cotter, Arkansas (72626)

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

Marion County • Population: 1,360 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 72626 (Cotter, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 23.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Cotter, AR (72626)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $239,732
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $43,162
% Renters 23.3%

Market Analysis: 72626 Cotter

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cotter's 72626 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $240K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 72626 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 72626's metrics run below Marion County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 72626 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 72626 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Cotter:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Mountain Home, AR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.4%
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 Mountain Home, AR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$257K$229K$200K$171K$143K$114KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72626 Compare?

Metric 72626 Cotter Mountain Home, AR Arkansas
Home Value $239,732 $239,732 N/A $216,341
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $792 $792 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 72626? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 72626 (Cotter, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Mountain Home, AR metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $239,732
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 25.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
23.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72626

Population: 1,360

💰 Median Household Income
$43,162
This area
$43,162
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.3%
This area
23.3%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
63.1 years
This area
63.1 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.5%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
👶 Under 18
8.9%
This area
8.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.2%
This area
40.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 72626

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
8.3:1 Avg Class Size
$11,387 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

AMANDA GIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,387 Per Student
A Very Good

COTTER HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
324 Students
👨‍🏫
5.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,387 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

1 Nearby 500 Off-Campus Students
C
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
1,284 students · 8.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Cotter, AR?

Cotter, AR home values average about $240K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $792/mo in monthly income.

How high is vacancy risk in Cotter, AR?

Vacancy risk in Cotter, AR is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Which real estate strategy fits Cotter, AR?

The best-fit strategy in Cotter, AR is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Cotter, AR?

Cotter, AR falls under AR landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the renter demographic in Cotter, AR?

Tenant quality in Cotter, AR ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $792/mo.

You know 72626 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 72626 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.

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How 72626 ranks in Mountain Home, AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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