Real Estate Investing in Rio Rancho, New Mexico (87144)

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

Sandoval County • Population: 49,976 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 87144 (Rio Rancho, NM)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 (87144)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $377,019
Avg Monthly Rent $2,187
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,303
% Renters 15.1%

Market Analysis: 87144 Rio Rancho

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Rio Rancho's 87144 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $377K pricing implies.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $377K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 87144 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Meanwhile, 87144 offers a low basis, the region around Rio Rancho has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 87144 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 87144 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $377K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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: 75/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,187/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 87144

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$93,351/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $246,225 $2,050 6.0% +10.7% $123,113
3BR $342,859 $2,850 6.0% +8.8% $114,286
4BR $407,690 $3,360 5.9% +7.7% $101,922
5BR $466,755 +7.4% $93,351

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$395K$346K$297K$249K$200K$151KJan 2014May 2020Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,226$2,115$2,003$1,892$1,781$1,670Feb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 87144 Compare?

Metric 87144 Rio Rancho Albuquerque, NM New Mexico
Home Value $377,019 $364,479 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,187 $1,940 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 87144? 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 87144 (Rio Rancho, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
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 $377,019
Monthly Rent $2,187
Price-to-Rent 14.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 10.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
3.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 87144

Population: 49,976

💰 Median Household Income
$84,303
This area
$84,303
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.5%
This area
34.5%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.7 years
This area
37.7 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.5%
Other/Mixed 31.0%
Hispanic/Latino 22.7%
Black/African American 2.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.8%
This area
13.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
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 87144

C+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
20.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,552 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

COLINAS DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
561 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,172 Per Student
B Good

EXPLORE ACADEMY - RIO RANCHO

📚 K – 06 School Charter
👥
182 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
B Good

CIELO AZUL ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
644 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

ENCHANTED HILLS ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
B Good

SANDIA VISTA ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
692 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C+ Average

MOUNTAIN VIEW MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
25.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C Below Average

RIO RANCHO MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,125 Students
👨‍🏫
24.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C Below Average

VISTA GRANDE ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
758 Students
👨‍🏫
26.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C Below Average

SHINING STARS PRESCHOOL

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
26.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,705 Per Student
C Below Average

CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,625 Students
👨‍🏫
25.1:1 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

2 Nearby 61 Off-Campus Students
D
Urban Academy of Beauty
17 students · 6.5 mi
C
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
233 students · 11.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Rio Rancho, NM?

Rio Rancho, NM registers an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $377K and average rents around $2,187/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Which investment style suits Rio Rancho, NM?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Rio Rancho, NM. With home values at $377K and rents near $2,187/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

How much is rent in Rio Rancho, NM?

Rents in Rio Rancho, NM run near $2,187/mo. Compared with median home prices of $377K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Rio Rancho, NM?

Expect median prices around $377K in Rio Rancho, NM. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

How strong is tenant demand in Rio Rancho, NM?

Working renters make up the core of the Rio Rancho, NM tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 87144 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 87144 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 87144 ranks in Albuquerque, NM

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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