Real Estate Investing in Rio Rancho, New Mexico (87124)

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

Sandoval County • Population: 58,402 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 87124 (Rio Rancho, NM)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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 Rio Rancho, NM (87124)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $351,939
Avg Monthly Rent $1,692
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,986
% Renters 21.7%

Market Analysis: 87124 Rio Rancho

The 87124 ZIP covers a section of Rio Rancho that demands careful diligence. Prices near $352K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 87124 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 87124 and stronger Rio Rancho ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 87124 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Rio Rancho averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 87124 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 Rio Rancho:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,692/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
Albuquerque, NM Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
40 days
Average time to sell
Average
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 Albuquerque, NM metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 87124

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$109,725/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $172,151 $1,420 5.9% +7.6% $172,151
2BR $251,784 $1,750 5.0% +10.4% $125,892
3BR $332,735 $2,430 5.3% +8.7% $110,912
4BR $438,901 $2,870 4.7% +7.5% $109,725
5BR $548,954 +6.9% $109,791

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$371K$325K$279K$233K$187K$141KMay 2014Jun 2020Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,926$1,722$1,518$1,314$1,110$906Mar 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 87124 Compare?

Metric 87124 Rio Rancho Albuquerque, NM New Mexico
Home Value $351,939 $364,479 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,692 $1,940 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 87124? 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 87124 (Rio Rancho, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Albuquerque, NM metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
48%
Days Pending
0/2
40 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $351,939
Monthly Rent $1,692
Price-to-Rent 17.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
4.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 87124

Population: 58,402

💰 Median Household Income
$72,986
This area
$72,986
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.8%
This area
31.8%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.0%
Other/Mixed 26.0%
Hispanic/Latino 18.3%
Black/African American 3.5%
Asian 2.5%
👶 Under 18
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 87124

C+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$13,368 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

RIO RANCHO ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

EAGLE RIDGE MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
777 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

THE ASK ACADEMY

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$9,321 Per Student
B Good

JOE HARRIS ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

LINCOLN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
800 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

MAGGIE CORDOVA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
648 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

MARTIN KING JR ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

RIO RANCHO CYBER ACADEMY

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C+ Average

ERNEST STAPLETON ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
801 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C+ Average

INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
202 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C+ Average

PUESTA DEL SOL ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
569 Students
👨‍🏫
24.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C+ Average

SPARRK ONLINE ACADEMY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Limited Data
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C Below Average

RIO RANCHO HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,554 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 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

5 Nearby 61 Off-Campus Students
D
Urban Academy of Beauty
17 students · 7.0 mi
C
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
233 students · 9.9 mi
C
Brookline College-Albuquerque
492 students · 14.1 mi
C
Aveda Institute-New Mexico
157 students · 14.4 mi
C
Carrington College-Albuquerque
297 students · 14.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Rio Rancho, NM stack up for property investment?

Yes - Rio Rancho, NM a 3.0/5 investability score. With $352K home prices against $1,692/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Rio Rancho, NM?

Average rent in Rio Rancho, NM is approximately $1,692/mo per month. Against $352K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Which real estate strategy fits Rio Rancho, NM?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Rio Rancho, NM. The numbers - $352K homes against $1,692/mo rents - support that play.

Can I house hack in Rio Rancho, NM?

Rio Rancho, NM offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,692/mo rent level.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Rio Rancho, NM?

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

You know 87124 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 87124 ranks in Albuquerque, NM

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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