Real Estate Investing in Phoenix, Arizona (85053)

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

Maricopa County • Population: 29,719 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85053 (Phoenix, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Phoenix, AZ (85053)?

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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 $381,556
Avg Monthly Rent $1,297
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,933
% Renters 37.7%

Market Analysis: 85053 Phoenix

This part of Maricopa County is not an easy win. The 85053 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 85053 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 85053 among AZ's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 85053 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 85053 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 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 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,297/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 85053

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$100,440/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $285,213 $1,570 4.0% +6.8% $142,607
3BR $378,827 $2,090 4.0% +7.1% $126,276
4BR $428,107 $2,350 4.0% +6.8% $107,027
5BR $502,202 +6.9% $100,440

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$448K$370K$293K$216K$139K$61KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,433$1,298$1,164$1,029$895$761Dec 2017Apr 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85053 Compare?

Metric 85053 Phoenix Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $381,556 $448,314 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 2.3% 2.8% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,297 $1,672 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85053? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 38% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85053 (Phoenix, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.3%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $381,556
Monthly Rent $1,297
Price-to-Rent 24.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 4.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
4.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85053

Population: 29,719

💰 Median Household Income
$65,933
This area
$65,933
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.7%
This area
37.7%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.2%
This area
25.2%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.5 years
This area
36.5 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.6%
Other/Mixed 19.0%
Hispanic/Latino 12.5%
Black/African American 4.5%
Asian 3.9%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.0%
This area
12.0%
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 85053

C+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
17.2:1 Avg Class Size
$22,082 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Desert Foothills Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
614 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,508 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ironwood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,508 Per Student
B Good

Sunrise Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
467 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,201 Per Student
B Good

West-MEC - Greenway High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
10 Students
💰
$74,804 Per Student
B Good

West-MEC Gateway Community College

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
2 Students
💰
$74,804 Per Student
C+ Average

Acacia Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
825 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,508 Per Student
C+ Average

Imagine Bell Canyon

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
252 Students
💰
$12,717 Per Student
C Below Average

Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics Elementary Schoo

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter Limited Data
👥
128 Students
💰
$12,721 Per Student
C Below Average

Greenway High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,376 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,607 Per Student
C Below Average

Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
280 Students
💰
$10,911 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Ombudsman - Charter West

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
125 Students
💰
$8,935 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Imagine Online Academy of Arizona

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
81 Students
💰
$7,759 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
C
Allen School-Phoenix
11 students · 0.8 mi
D
Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix
1,062 students · 0.9 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix
830 students · 1.6 mi
D
Arizona Christian University
1,233 students · 2.9 mi
D
Avalon Institute-Phoenix
382 students · 3.7 mi
C+
Midwestern University-Glendale
3,794 students · 3.8 mi
D
UEI College-Phoenix
1,148 students · 4.2 mi
D
Brookline College-Phoenix
751 students · 4.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What does house hacking look like in Phoenix, AZ?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Phoenix, AZ reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How strict are landlord regulations in Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix, AZ operates under AZ law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Are tenants stable in Phoenix, AZ?

Working renters make up the core of the Phoenix, AZ tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Where do rents currently stand in Phoenix, AZ?

The typical rental in Phoenix, AZ commands about $1,297/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $382K purchase basis.

Are homes affordable in Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix, AZ home values average about $382K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,297/mo in monthly income.

You know 85053 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85053 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 85053 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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