Is Sarasota County, FL good for real estate investing?

Sarasota County has an investment score of 44/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #902 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Sarasota?

The rent-to-price ratio in Sarasota County is 6.61% annually, which ranks in the 68th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Sarasota?

The median home price in Sarasota County is $393,399. This ranks #789 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Sarasota?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Sarasota County would generate negative cash flow of $653/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Sarasota County

FloridaPopulation: 439,392

/100

Avoid

#902 of 1,000 counties

#53 in Florida (67 counties)

Market Snapshot

$393,399

Median Home Price

44% above national median

$2,168/mo

Median Rent

45% above national median

6.61%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 32% nationally

-$653

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

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

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$393,399

Down Payment (20%)$78,680

Loan Amount$314,719

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,168

Monthly P&I-$2,062

Est. Expenses (35%)-$759

Net Cash Flow-$653/mo

4.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-8.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.61%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

44/100

Cash Flow(30%)

66/100

Based on 6.61% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

5/100

Based on -10.2% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

54/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (6.61%)
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-10.2% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$653/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

439,392

Median Income

$77,213

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

5.1x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
LeeFL	45	$339,141	$1,856	6.57%	Hold	View
NassauFL	45	$473,918	$2,066	5.23%	Hold	View
CurrentSarasotaFL	44	$393,399	$2,168	6.61%	Avoid
Miami-DadeFL	44	$513,948	$2,798	6.53%	Avoid	View
PinellasFL	44	$361,621	$2,032	6.74%	Avoid	View
MartinFL	44	$435,316	$2,330	6.42%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidSarasota may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Sarasota County in Florida scores 44/100, ranking #902 of 1,000 US counties (top 90%). The 6.61% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-653/mo

Cap Rate

4.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-8.7%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Sarasota?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$393,399

Down Payment (20%)$78,680

Loan Amount$314,719

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,168

Monthly P&I-$2,062

Est. Expenses (35%)-$759

Net Cash Flow-$653/mo

4.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-8.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.61%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

44/100

Cash Flow(30%)

66/100

Based on 6.61% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

5/100

Based on -10.2% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

54/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

LeeFL

$339,141

$1,856

6.57%

Hold

View

NassauFL

$473,918

$2,066

5.23%

Hold

View

CurrentSarasotaFL

$393,399

$2,168

6.61%

Avoid

Miami-DadeFL

$513,948

$2,798

6.53%

Avoid

View

PinellasFL

$361,621

$2,032

6.74%

Avoid

View

MartinFL

$435,316

$2,330

6.42%

Avoid

View

The Bottom Line

AvoidSarasota may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-653/mo

Cap Rate

4.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-8.7%