Real Estate Investing in Surprise, Arizona (85374)

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

Maricopa County • Population: 40,955 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85374 (Surprise, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.4% CAGR).

What’s happening in Surprise, AZ (85374)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $385,362
Avg Monthly Rent $1,663
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,770
% Renters 21.4%

Market Analysis: 85374 Surprise

ZIP 85374 in Surprise, AZ carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $385K and rents of $1,663/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 85374 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader AZ picture, 85374 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

On balance, 40,955 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 85374 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Surprise:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,663/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 85374

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$96,102/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $207,470 $1,890 6.6% +5.9% $207,470
2BR $378,728 $2,190 4.2% +4.7% $189,364
3BR $382,974 $2,920 5.5% +6.4% $127,658
4BR $413,231 $3,240 5.6% +6.6% $103,308
5BR $480,512 +6.8% $96,102

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$479K$408K$338K$268K$197K$127KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,821$1,638$1,456$1,273$1,091$908Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85374 Compare?

Metric 85374 Surprise Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $385,362 $408,276 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 1.4% 1.9% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,663 $1,963 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.8% - -
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 85374 (Surprise, 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

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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

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $385,362
Monthly Rent $1,663
Price-to-Rent 19.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 4.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
15.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85374

Population: 40,955

💰 Median Household Income
$76,770
This area
$76,770
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.9 years
This area
57.9 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.0%
Other/Mixed 10.4%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Black/African American 4.0%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
41.6%
This area
41.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
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 85374

C+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$25,459 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Northwest Campus

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
12 Students
👨‍🏫
0.6:1 Class Size
💰
$74,804 Per Student
B Good

Freedom Traditional Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
470 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,753 Per Student
B Good

Kingswood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
798 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,753 Per Student
B Good

West-MEC - Valley Vista High School

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

West Point Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
810 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,753 Per Student
C+ Average

Dysart iSchool

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$11,753 Per Student
C Below Average

Arizona Charter Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter Limited Data
👥
997 Students
💰
$10,547 Per Student
C Below Average

Valley Vista High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
2,443 Students
👨‍🏫
23.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,753 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Paradise Honors Elementary School

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
1,919 Students
💰
$10,213 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 6,553 Off-Campus Students
D
Ottawa University-Surprise
836 students · 1.9 mi
C
Western Maricopa Education Center
220 students · 9.5 mi
D
Kor Beauty Academy
64 students · 10.0 mi
C
Estrella Mountain Community College
10,069 students · 11.7 mi
C+
Midwestern University-Glendale
3,794 students · 12.2 mi
D
Arizona Christian University
1,233 students · 12.4 mi
C
Glendale Community College
13,480 students · 12.8 mi
C
Aveda Institute Tucson-Avondale
75 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,553 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Surprise, AZ?

Expect elevated vacancy in Surprise, AZ. Rents at $1,663/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How viable is house hacking in Surprise, AZ?

The house hack math a challenging in Surprise, AZ. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,663/mo rents and $385K home values.

Are rents high in Surprise, AZ?

Rents in Surprise, AZ run near $1,663/mo. Compared with median home prices of $385K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How expensive is real estate in Surprise, AZ?

The median home value in Surprise, AZ is roughly $385K. That puts it reasonable relative to the AZ statewide average.

Is real estate in Surprise, AZ a good investment right now?

Surprise, AZ scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $385K and rents near $1,663/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 85374 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85374 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 85374 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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