Real Estate Investing in Waterflow, New Mexico (87421)

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

San Juan County • Population: 1,588 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 87421 (Waterflow, NM)? 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: 22.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Waterflow, NM (87421)?

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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 $235,983
Avg Monthly Rent $1,053
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,102
% Renters 17.2%

Market Analysis: 87421 Waterflow

Investors eyeing 87421 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $236K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $236K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 87421 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader NM picture, 87421 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 87421 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Waterflow's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 87421. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Waterflow:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,053/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Farmington, NM Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.5%
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 Farmington, NM metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$246K$236K$225K$215K$204K$193KFeb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 87421 Compare?

Metric 87421 Waterflow Farmington, NM New Mexico
Home Value $235,983 $258,538 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 4.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,053 $1,080 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 87421? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 87421 (Waterflow, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Farmington, NM metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
45%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $235,983
Monthly Rent $1,053
Price-to-Rent 18.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
22.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 87421

Population: 1,588

💰 Median Household Income
$48,102
This area
$48,102
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.2 years
This area
41.2 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 72.5%
White 25.1%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Asian 2.4%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.6%
This area
15.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Waterflow, NM?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Waterflow, NM. With home values at $236K and rents near $1,053/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

How much is rent in Waterflow, NM?

Rents in Waterflow, NM run near $1,053/mo. Compared with median home prices of $236K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What price range are homes in Waterflow, NM?

Median home price in Waterflow, NM is near $236K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Waterflow, NM?

Waterflow, NM vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is the tenant base reliable in Waterflow, NM?

Tenant demand in Waterflow, NM is solid. The local workforce $1,053/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 87421 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 87421 ranks in Farmington, NM

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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