Start broad
Screen states, counties, cities, or ZIP codes in the Market Explorer to find markets with strong rent-to-price fundamentals.
Compare Section 8 markets
Compare rental markets by rent, yield, value, tax, demand, and confidence.
Market comparison on fmr.fyi is built for investors who need to evaluate Section 8 rental markets with the same numbers on every candidate. Use the Shortlist to save contenders and compare them against each other before committing to a local buy box.
Comparison framework
| Metric group | Compare | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUD rent signal | 3BR FMR | $1,285/mo | Shows the published FMR or SAFMR rent benchmark by bedroom. |
| Market rent check | Market rent | $1,210/mo | Tests whether the HUD rent assumption is supported by private rent data. |
| Yield signal | Net yield | 8.1% | Compares rent potential against property value and annual taxes. |
| Acquisition price | ZHVI value | $95k | Keeps estimated property value in the same view as rent and yield. |
| Trust score | Confidence | 94 | Highlights weaker inputs such as missing market rent or blended prices. |
How to compare markets on fmr.fyi
The strongest workflow is simple: screen broadly, save contenders, compare consistently, then drill into the best geography level for acquisition.
Save contenders
Add promising locations to the Shortlist so each market carries its rent, yield, value, tax, confidence, and demand context forward.
Compare side by side
Use the comparison workspace to surface the leader and laggard for each underwriting variable before choosing where to dig deeper.
Refine the buy box
Promote the strongest markets into a buy box, then use local ZIP, city, county, and state pages to validate the next level of detail.
Market comparison FAQ
What should I compare across Section 8 rental markets?
Start with HUD FMR or SAFMR rent, private market rent, effective rent, property value, tax rate, net yield, demand, and confidence. Together these show both the upside and the reliability of the assumptions.
Why does effective rent matter?
Effective rent uses the lower of HUD FMR and private market rent when both are available. That helps avoid assuming a voucher rent that may not be supported by local market conditions.
Can I compare ZIP codes with counties or cities?
Yes. fmr.fyi supports comparison across ZIP, city, county, and state markets, which helps investors narrow from a broad market thesis into specific acquisition zones.
How does the shortlist help market comparison?
The shortlist keeps saved markets in one workspace so users can compare the same metrics repeatedly, export the data, and move markets through a research workflow.