Is the Sterling, CO metro area good for real estate investing?

The Sterling, CO metropolitan area has an investment score of 60/100, rated as "Buy". It ranks #519 nationally among 894 metro areas analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Sterling, CO?

The rent-to-price ratio in the Sterling, CO metro area is 5.13% annually, which ranks in the 28th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Sterling, CO?

The median home price in the Sterling, CO metro area is $255,446. The metro area includes 0 counties with prices ranging from the most affordable to more premium markets.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Sterling, CO?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in the Sterling, CO metro would generate negative cash flow of $630/month. Individual property and county performance varies. Explore the county-level analysis for more specific opportunities.

Metropolitan Area

Sterling, CO

Colorado0

/100

Buy

#519 of 894 metros

Top 58% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$255,446

Median Home Price

0% above national median

$1,091/mo

Median Rent

21% below national median

5.13%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 72% nationally

-$630

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

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$255,446

Down Payment (20%)$51,089

Loan Amount$204,357

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,091

Monthly P&I-$1,339

Est. Expenses (35%)-$382

Net Cash Flow-$630/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.9%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.13%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% 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

60/100

Cash Flow(30%)

47/100

Based on 5.13% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

73/100

Based on 2.0% 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%)

75/100

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

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Low unemployment (0.0%)

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.13%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$630/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Sterling, CO

County data is being compiled for this metro area.

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro Area					Verdict
Decatur, IL Decatur, IL	80	$126,931	$928	8.77%	Strong Buy	View
Corning, NY Corning, NY	80	$171,646	$1,293	9.04%	Strong Buy	View
Guymon, OK Guymon, OK	80	$168,571	Est.		Strong Buy	View
Union City, TN Union City, TN	80	$166,036	Est.		Strong Buy	View
Orangeburg, SC Orangeburg, SC	80	$163,772	$1,320	9.67%	Strong Buy	View
Current Sterling, CO	60	$255,446	$1,091	5.13%	Buy

The Bottom Line

BuySterling, CO offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

The Sterling, CO metro area scores 60/100, ranking #519 of 894 US metros (top 58%). The 5.13% 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

$-630/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-14.8%

Ready to Invest in Sterling, CO?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties, or explore individual counties for more targeted opportunities.

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