Real Estate Investing in Altus, Arkansas (72821)

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

Franklin County • Population: 2,022 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 72821 (Altus, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

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

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 29.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $36,442 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Altus, AR (72821)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $126,393
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $36,442
% Renters 31.4%

Market Analysis: 72821 Altus

Investors eyeing 72821 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $126K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $126K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 72821 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 72821's metrics run below Franklin County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 72821 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Altus's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 72821. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Altus:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/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
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
81 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$135K$122K$109K$96K$84K$71KJan 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72821 Compare?

Metric 72821 Altus Fort Smith, AR-OK Arkansas
Home Value $126,393 $126,393 N/A $216,341
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $792 $792 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 72821? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 72821 (Altus, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $126,393
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
14.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72821

Population: 2,022

💰 Median Household Income
$36,442
This area
$36,442
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.4%
This area
31.4%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.7 years
This area
37.7 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.1%
Other/Mixed 7.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
👶 Under 18
27.3%
This area
27.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
29.5%
This area
29.5%
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 72821

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$11,959 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

OZARK MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 07 Middle
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,959 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
C+
University of the Ozarks
763 students · 14.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Altus, AR?

The typical rental in Altus, AR commands about $792/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $126K purchase basis.

How viable is house hacking in Altus, AR?

House hacking works a challenging in Altus, AR. Rents of $792/mo against $126K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the investability score for Altus, AR?

Altus, AR scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $126K and rents near $792/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are home prices like in Altus, AR?

Typical homes in Altus, AR go for around $126K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

What type of investing works in Altus, AR?

Altus, AR investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($126K prices, $792/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 72821 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 72821 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 72821 ranks in Fort Smith, AR-OK

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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