Real Estate Investing in Phoenix, Arizona (85003)

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

Maricopa County • Population: 10,155 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 85003 (Phoenix, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (29/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Phoenix, AZ (85003)?

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

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $582,092
Avg Monthly Rent $1,758
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,607
% Renters 71.3%

Market Analysis: 85003 Phoenix

The 85003 ZIP in Phoenix, AZ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $582K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 85003 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 85003 and stronger Phoenix ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 85003 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 85003 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $582K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Phoenix:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,758/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
64 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.6%
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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85003

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$237,070/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $359,374 $1,490 3.0% +6.5% $359,374
2BR $564,304 $1,730 2.2% +7.5% $282,152
3BR $759,696 $2,310 2.2% +7.8% $253,232
4BR $948,280 $2,560 1.9% +8.0% $237,070

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$634K$536K$437K$339K$241K$143KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,038$1,829$1,619$1,409$1,199$990Jun 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85003 Compare?

Metric 85003 Phoenix Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $582,092 $448,314 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 2.8% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,758 $1,672 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85003? Click to expand

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

71% 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 85003 (Phoenix, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 85003 (Phoenix, AZ)?

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

Property managers serving Maricopa County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Active Renter Property Management offers rental property management services in Phoenix, Arizona, including a 6-month tenant guarantee. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Arête Realty and Property Management, LLC offers property management services and real estate expertise in Glendale, Avondale, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Sun City, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Peori summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Arizona Community Management Services offers a comprehensive suite of services for Association leaders, including board training, financial management, and covenants enforcement, with decades of exper summary from their website

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
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $582,092
Monthly Rent $1,758
Price-to-Rent 27.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 5.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -6.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85003

Population: 10,155

💰 Median Household Income
$49,607
This area
$49,607
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
71.3%
This area
71.3%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.9%
This area
49.9%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.4 years
This area
36.4 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.8%
Other/Mixed 16.8%
Black/African American 14.6%
Hispanic/Latino 12.5%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.1%
This area
20.1%
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 85003

C+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,298 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Lowell Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
B Good

Kenilworth Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
489 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
C+ Average

Vista College Preparatory - Hadley

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
236 Students
💰
$13,317 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

City View High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
85 Students
💰
$10,215 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 915 E PALM LN, PHOENIX
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
A Very Good

Capitol Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 330 N 16TH AVE, PHOENIX
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
A Very Good

Garfield School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 811 N 13TH ST, PHOENIX
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
A Very Good

Magnet Traditional School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2602 N 23RD AVE, PHOENIX
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 Per Student
A Very Good

Mary Mcleod Bethune School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 1310 S 15TH AVE, PHOENIX
👥
359 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,830 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 5,209 Off-Campus Students
C+
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery
15 students · 0.5 mi
D
Pathways College
81 students · 1.7 mi
C
GateWay Community College-Central City
477 students · 1.7 mi
D
Arizona Board of Regents
0 students · 1.9 mi
C
Phoenix College
10,384 students · 2.2 mi
D
University of Phoenix-Arizona
101,150 students · 4.7 mi
C+
GateWay Community College
5,123 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Xtylo Beauty College
35 students · 4.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,209 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Phoenix, AZ?

Vacancy in Phoenix, AZ is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,758/mo.

Are rents high in Phoenix, AZ?

Investors in Phoenix, AZ typically see rents near $1,758/mo per month against $582K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the average home sale price in Phoenix, AZ?

Median home price in Phoenix, AZ is near $582K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Which real estate strategy fits Phoenix, AZ?

In Phoenix, AZ the resilient play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $582K prices and $1,758/mo rents suits that approach.

How does Phoenix, AZ stack up for property investment?

Phoenix, AZ scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $582K and rents near $1,758/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 85003 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85003 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 85003 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 85003 (Phoenix)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 85003 (Phoenix, AZ).

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