Is DeKalb County, IL good for real estate investing?

DeKalb County has an investment score of 67/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #172 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in DeKalb County is 6.20% annually, which ranks in the 57th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in DeKalb?

The median home price in DeKalb County is $282,814. This ranks #633 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in DeKalb?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in DeKalb County would generate negative cash flow of $533/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

DeKalb County

IllinoisPopulation: 100,686

/100

Buy

#172 of 1,000 counties

#63 in Illinois (102 counties)

Market Snapshot

$282,814

Median Home Price

21% above national median

$1,461/mo

Median Rent

3% below national median

6.20%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 43% nationally

-$533

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$282,814

Down Payment (20%)$56,563

Loan Amount$226,251

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,461

Monthly P&I-$1,483

Est. Expenses (35%)-$511

Net Cash Flow-$533/mo

4.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.20%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.0% 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

67/100

Cash Flow(30%)

62/100

Based on 6.20% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

89/100

Based on 6.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

68/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.1x. 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

+Strong price appreciation (+6.0% YoY)
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$533/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

100,686

Median Income

$68,617

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

4.1x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
LakeIL	69	$374,727	$2,083	6.67%	Buy	View
KaneIL	68	$363,906	$2,014	6.64%	Buy	View
AdamsIL	68	$174,680	$981	6.74%	Buy	View
CurrentDeKalbIL	67	$282,814	$1,461	6.20%	Buy
DuPageIL	66	$416,478	$2,040	5.88%	Buy	View
GreeneIL	65	$106,001	Est. pending	—	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyDeKalb offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

DeKalb County in Illinois scores 67/100, ranking #172 of 1,000 US counties (top 23%). The 6.20% 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

$-533/mo

Cap Rate

4.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.8%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in DeKalb?

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$282,814

Down Payment (20%)$56,563

Loan Amount$226,251

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,461

Monthly P&I-$1,483

Est. Expenses (35%)-$511

Net Cash Flow-$533/mo

4.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.20%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.0% 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

67/100

Cash Flow(30%)

62/100

Based on 6.20% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

89/100

Based on 6.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

68/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.1x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

LakeIL

$374,727

$2,083

6.67%

Buy

View

KaneIL

$363,906

$2,014

6.64%

Buy

View

AdamsIL

$174,680

$981

6.74%

Buy

View

CurrentDeKalbIL

$282,814

$1,461

6.20%

Buy

DuPageIL

$416,478

$2,040

5.88%

Buy

View

GreeneIL

$106,001

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyDeKalb offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-533/mo

Cap Rate

4.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.8%