Real Estate Investing in Gold Canyon, Arizona (85118)

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

Pinal County • Population: 13,955 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85118 (Gold Canyon, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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 vacancy: 23.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Gold Canyon, AZ (85118)?

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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 $480,596
Avg Monthly Rent $2,005
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,703
% Renters 7.0%

Market Analysis: 85118 Gold Canyon

The 85118 ZIP in Gold Canyon, AZ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $481K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 85118 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $481K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 85118 sits on the difficult end of the AZ spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 85118 ZIP's population of 13,955 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

The 85118 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 Gold Canyon:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,005/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 85118

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$157,124/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $433,789 $1,580 2.6% +7.2% $216,895
3BR $487,129 $2,120 3.1% +7.7% $162,376
4BR $628,495 $2,370 2.7% +7.8% $157,124
5BR $870,210 +8.5% $174,042

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$548K$475K$403K$330K$257K$185KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,123$2,041$1,959$1,876$1,794$1,711Feb 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 85118 Compare?

Metric 85118 Gold Canyon Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $480,596 $480,596 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 2.3% 2.3% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $2,005 $2,005 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85118? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85118 (Gold Canyon, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.3%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $480,596
Monthly Rent $2,005
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 5.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
23.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85118

Population: 13,955

💰 Median Household Income
$80,703
This area
$80,703
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.7%
This area
38.7%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
66.2 years
This area
66.2 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.6%
Other/Mixed 5.9%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
6.0%
This area
6.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
53.3%
This area
53.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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 85118

C+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
19.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,825 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

C+ Average

Peralta Trail Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
288 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,825 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gold Canyon, AZ rate as a rental market?

Gold Canyon, AZ scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $481K and rents near $2,005/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Gold Canyon, AZ?

Vacancy risk in Gold Canyon, AZ is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Where do rents currently stand in Gold Canyon, AZ?

The typical rental in Gold Canyon, AZ commands about $2,005/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $481K purchase basis.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Gold Canyon, AZ?

The tenant pool in Gold Canyon, AZ is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,005/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What are home prices like in Gold Canyon, AZ?

Median home price in Gold Canyon, AZ is near $481K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 85118 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85118 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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