Real Estate Investing in Phoenix, Arizona (85044)

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

Maricopa County • Population: 40,419 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 85044 (Phoenix, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Phoenix, AZ (85044)?

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 $478,660
Avg Monthly Rent $1,524
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $92,041
% Renters 36.4%

Market Analysis: 85044 Phoenix

This part of Maricopa County is not an easy win. The 85044 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 85044 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $479K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader AZ picture, 85044 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 85044 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 85044 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $479K 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+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,524/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
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 85044

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$146,797/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $353,990 $2,250 4.6% +6.6% $176,995
3BR $469,408 $3,000 4.6% +6.5% $156,469
4BR $587,190 $3,330 4.1% +7.0% $146,797
5BR $917,285 +8.1% $183,457

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$550K$468K$385K$303K$221K$138KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,704$1,553$1,402$1,251$1,100$949Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85044 Compare?

Metric 85044 Phoenix Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $478,660 $448,314 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 2.8% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,524 $1,672 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85044? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 85044 (Phoenix, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 85044 (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
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $478,660
Monthly Rent $1,524
Price-to-Rent 26.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 4.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85044

Population: 40,419

💰 Median Household Income
$92,041
This area
$92,041
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.4%
This area
36.4%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
50.7%
This area
50.7%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.7 years
This area
41.7 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.3%
Other/Mixed 17.0%
Hispanic/Latino 9.8%
Black/African American 7.1%
Asian 4.6%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
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 85044

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$48,044 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Kyrene de la Colina School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
446 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,067 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kyrene de la Esperanza School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,067 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kyrene de las Lomas School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
450 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,067 Per Student
B Good

Kyrene Centennial Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,067 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Mountain Pointe High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
C Below Average

BASIS Ahwatukee

📚 04 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
668 Students
💰
$9,075 Per Student
C Below Average

Mountain Pointe High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,639 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$10,517 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Cloves C Campbell Sr Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2624 E SOUTH MOUNTAIN AVE, PHOENIX
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,489 Per Student
A+ Excellent

T G Barr School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2041 E VINEYARD RD, PHOENIX
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,489 Per Student
A Very Good

Maxine O Bush Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 602 E SIESTA DR, PHOENIX
👥
273 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,489 Per Student
A Very Good

John F Kennedy Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 6825 S 10TH ST, PHOENIX
👥
364 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,489 Per Student
A Very Good

Nevitt Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4525 E SAINT ANNE AVE, PHOENIX
👥
648 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,452 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 1,201 Off-Campus Students
C
Aveda Institute-Phoenix
202 students · 2.2 mi
D
University of Advancing Technology
960 students · 3.1 mi
C
International Barber College
30 students · 3.3 mi
C
South Mountain Community College
4,157 students · 3.3 mi
D
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Phoenix
0 students · 4.9 mi
D
University of Phoenix-Arizona
101,150 students · 4.9 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe
1,246 students · 4.9 mi
C
Aspen University
5,195 students · 5.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,201 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Phoenix, AZ?

Vacancy in Phoenix, AZ is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,524/mo.

What price range are homes in Phoenix, AZ?

Median home price in Phoenix, AZ is near $479K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What do landlords charge for rent in Phoenix, AZ?

Rent in Phoenix, AZ is around $1,524/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $479K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Phoenix, AZ?

The renter base in Phoenix, AZ is reasonable for the $1,524/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

Which investment style suits Phoenix, AZ?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Phoenix, AZ best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $479K price point.

You know 85044 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85044 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 85044 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 85044 (Phoenix)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 85044 (Phoenix, AZ).

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