Florida is an intriguing state when it comes to buying and owning rental property. On one hand, demand for homes — especially single-family homes — has been consistently on the rise in Florida. Yet despite the demand, it doesn’t necessarily convert to more homebuyers. Instead, even though Florida boasts fairly low housing prices statewide, many people are still opting to rent instead of buy. As a result, rental rates are skyrocketing.

Now add into the mix low property taxes and insurance, as well as no state income tax. Great climate and top-of-the-line healthcare are bonuses that help make Florida one of, if not the best, states for America’s retiring Baby Boomer masses.

Here’s a look at the best places in Florida to own rental property and turn a solid profit.

Tampa Investment Real Estate Market

Although Tampa home prices have risen in recent years, the city still has plenty of neighborhoods and zip codes where investors can find properties at affordable prices, and rent them out for $1,405 to $1,527 a month on average.

Tampa’s economic prospects really boost the city’s appeal to rental property owners. Tampa’s year-over-year employment growth beat the U.S. average. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, U.S. nonfarm employment increased approximately 1.6% from 2017 to 2018, while Tampa managed a 2.3% increase.

Healthcare and social assistance is the dominant employment sector in Tampa. This isn’t a bad thing considering jobs such as home health aides, personal care aides, physician assistants and nurse practitioners all rank among the top-10 fastest growing occupations in the country, according to BLS Employment Projections.

Things To Consider When Buying Property in Tampa

Here’s a breakdown of some important figures to consider before buying property in Tampa:

• Median list price – All Homes: $312,995
• Median list price – Condo: $239,900
• Rent list price: $1,527
• Median rent: $1,405
• 1-year job growth rate: 2.3%
• 5-year population growth: 12%
• Rental yield: See rental yields for Tampa

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The trajectory of Tampa’s population growth is very conducive to potential future property owners. Since 2013, Tampa’s population has risen by an impressive 12%, one of the highest rates in the country. With a local economy worth well over $130 billion, Tampa is easily one of Florida’s best markets to buy and own rental property. For a more in-depth look, or just to explore, take a look at this interactive map of the Tampa real estate market.

Article original source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2018/09/15/best-cities-own-rental-property-florida/#72b3028b32df