Week Ending August 1, 2025
If you’re a real estate investor, you know the 1% rule is a quick way to screen for potential cash-flow properties—where monthly rent equals at least 1% of the purchase price. This week’s Rentometer Gross Yield Index, covering 15 top-performing metros and analyzing 100,000 for-sale listings, reveals which markets are heating up and which are cooling off.
Cleveland tops the list with 28% of active listings meeting or exceeding the 1% rule, followed closely by Detroit (26%) and Pittsburgh (20%). In contrast, several large metros, including Dallas–Fort Worth and Baltimore, had 2% or fewer qualifying properties—signaling tighter margins for investors in those areas.
| Metro | All Listings | Number of Listings that Pass 1% Rule | Percentage of Listings that Pass 1% Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor | 2,336 | 646 | 28% |
| Detroit-Warren-Livonia | 7,639 | 1,948 | 26% |
| Pittsburgh | 3,895 | 783 | 20% |
| Toledo | 919 | 173 | 19% |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville | 10,113 | 1,483 | 15% |
| Buffalo-Niagara-Falls | 1,147 | 162 | 14% |
| New-Orleans-Metairie-Kenner | 4,579 | 598 | 13% |
| Memphis | 4,133 | 451 | 11% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 6,432 | 595 | 9% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West-Allis | 1,120 | 84 | 8% |
| Corpus-Christi | 2,420 | 171 | 7% |
| Laredo | 385 | 23 | 6% |
| Houston-Sugar-Land-Baytown | 35,370 | 1,251 | 4% |
| Baltimore-Towson | 2,380 | 41 | 2% |
| Dallas-Fort-Worth-Arlington | 32,380 | 381 | 1% |
The Rentometer Gross Yield Market Index is updated at the beginning of each month with fresh data, making it easy for investors and agents to pinpoint markets with the highest concentration of potential high-yield single-family rental deals—without hours of manual research.
While this snapshot highlights the hottest metros for cash flow potential, the real power comes when you explore the individual property data.
Our Rent Yield Tracker—updated every week—let's you filter for-sale listings currently on the market and view their estimated market rent and gross yield—no spreadsheets, no guesswork. Plus, you’re just one click away from additional property details and market insights to help you better assess each opportunity.
Whether you’re hunting for your first rental property or adding to an existing portfolio, the Rent Yield Tracker puts the numbers front and center so you can move quickly on the best opportunities. Sort by city, price range, or yield percentage, and zero in on the listings that meet or exceed your investment criteria.
👉 Start using the Rentometer Yield Tracker today to uncover your next high-performing rental before the competition does.
💡 About the data: Yield figures are estimates based on available market data and automated calculations. They are for informational and analytical purposes only. Please conduct your own due diligence and consult with licensed professionals before making any investment decisions.