Metropolitan Area

Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin0
56
/100
Hold
#617 of 894 metros
Top 69% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$390,238
Median Home Price
53% above national median
$1,538/mo
Median Rent
11% above national median
4.73%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 79% nationally
-$1,046
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$390,238
Down Payment (20%)$78,048
Loan Amount$312,190
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,538
Monthly P&I-$2,046
Est. Expenses (35%)-$538
Net Cash Flow-$1,046/mo
3.1%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-14.0%
Cash-on-Cash Return
4.73%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.1% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
56/100
56
Cash Flow(30%)
41/100

Based on 4.73% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
87/100

Based on 5.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.

Affordability(20%)
46/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Strong price appreciation (+5.0% YoY)
  • +Low unemployment (0.0%)

Challenges

  • -Below-average rent-to-price ratio (4.73%)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,046/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 3.1% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Milwaukee, WI

County data is being compiled for this metro area.

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro AreaVerdict
Arkadelphia, AR
Arkadelphia, AR
76$165,028Est.Strong BuyView
Borger, TX
Borger, TX
76$125,351$1,0009.57%Strong BuyView
Marietta, OH
Marietta, OH
76$187,264$1,2508.01%Strong BuyView
Fremont, OH
Fremont, OH
76$190,301Est.Strong BuyView
Bartlesville, OK
Bartlesville, OK
76$184,820$1,2107.86%Strong BuyView
Current
Milwaukee, WI
56$390,238$1,5384.73%Hold

Rent vs buy in this metro

Rent vs buy in Milwaukee, WIMedian $273,685 · rent $1,396/mo

The Bottom Line

HoldMilwaukee, WI is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals in specific counties.

The Milwaukee, WI metro area scores 56/100, ranking #617 of 894 US metros (top 69%). The 4.73% rent-to-price ratio may require targeting specific counties or creative strategies for positive cash flow. Current metro-wide averages make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or drilling down to specific counties.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-1,046/mo
Cap Rate
3.1%
Cash-on-Cash
-16.1%

Ready to Invest in Milwaukee, WI?

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