Rental Yield Hotspots
Gross rental yield (annual rent / property value) mapped across every neighborhood. Where the numbers work.
What the data shows
Coastal metros (SF, NYC, LA) consistently show yields below 4% — high property values make the math hard for cash-flow investors. The Midwest and South dominate the high-yield map: Cleveland, Memphis, Detroit, Birmingham routinely show 8-12% gross yields.
But yield alone doesn't tell the whole story. High-yield areas often come with higher vacancy rates, lower appreciation, and more management overhead. The sweet spot — moderate yield with strong appreciation — tends to cluster in growing secondary metros: Raleigh, Tampa, Columbus, Salt Lake City.