Real Estate Investing in Flagstaff, Arizona (86001)

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

Coconino County • Population: 36,900 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 86001 (Flagstaff, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Flagstaff, AZ (86001)?

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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 $669,109
Avg Monthly Rent $2,129
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,774
% Renters 63.9%

Market Analysis: 86001 Flagstaff

The 86001 ZIP in Flagstaff, AZ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $669K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $2,129/mo on a $669K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 86001 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 86001 sits on the difficult end of the AZ spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 86001 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 86001 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 Flagstaff:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 11× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,129/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
Flagstaff, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
70 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.4%
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 Flagstaff, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 86001

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$206,780/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $316,626 $1,940 4.4% +4.6% $316,626
2BR $436,449 $2,160 3.6% +8.5% $218,224
3BR $656,197 $2,630 2.9% +9.5% $218,732
4BR $827,121 $2,890 2.5% +9.6% $206,780
5BR $1,113,507 +10.5% $222,701

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$713K$608K$503K$399K$294K$189KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,380$2,272$2,164$2,056$1,948$1,839Nov 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 86001 Compare?

Metric 86001 Flagstaff Flagstaff, AZ Arizona
Home Value $669,109 $290,116 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.4% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $2,129 $2,250 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 86001? Click to expand

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

64% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 86001 (Flagstaff, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Flagstaff, AZ metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
65%
Days Pending
2/2
70 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $669,109
Monthly Rent $2,129
Price-to-Rent 26.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
11.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 86001

Population: 36,900

💰 Median Household Income
$60,774
This area
$60,774
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.9%
This area
63.9%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
54.8%
This area
54.8%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
23.8 years
This area
23.8 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.2%
Other/Mixed 24.2%
Hispanic/Latino 9.5%
Asian 3.7%
Black/African American 2.0%
👶 Under 18
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
7.8%
This area
7.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
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 86001

C+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,833 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Eva Marshall Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,401 Per Student
A Very Good

Lura Kinsey Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,401 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Charles W Sechrist Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,401 Per Student
B+ Above Average

W F Killip Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,401 Per Student
B Good

Flagstaff Arts And Leadership Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
200 Students
💰
$25,585 Per Student
C+ Average

Flagstaff High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,625 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,401 Per Student
C Below Average

BASIS Flagstaff

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter Limited Data
👥
695 Students
💰
$10,099 Per Student
C Below Average

Flagstaff Junior Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
339 Students
💰
$10,633 Per Student
C Below Average

Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff - Campus

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
181 Students
💰
$11,883 Per Student
C Below Average

CAVIAT - Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

CAVIAT - Flagstaff High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Haven Montessori Charter School

📚 K – 06 School Charter Limited Data
👥
81 Students
💰
$13,123 Per Student
C Below Average

ASDB - Region 1

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
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

3 Nearby 4,458 Off-Campus Students
B+
Indian Bible College
33 students · 12.1 mi
C+
Northern Arizona University
28,186 students · 12.6 mi
D
Coconino Community College
2,696 students · 13.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,458 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Flagstaff, AZ?

In Flagstaff, AZ the median home value sits at $669K. Against the broader AZ market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is it like being a landlord in Flagstaff, AZ?

AZ ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Flagstaff generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How do experienced investors play Flagstaff, AZ?

The best-fit strategy in Flagstaff, AZ is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What is the investability score for Flagstaff, AZ?

Yes - Flagstaff, AZ a 3.0/5 investability score. With $669K home prices against $2,129/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How much rent can I charge in Flagstaff, AZ?

Rents in Flagstaff, AZ run near $2,129/mo. Compared with median home prices of $669K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 86001 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 86001 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 86001 ranks in Flagstaff, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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