Market report · OH

Cincinnati, OH

Balanced's market

Cash-flow-friendly fundamentals: 7.0% gross rent yield and 56% of sales closing below list make Cincinnati a steady BRRRR and rental market.

DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026

$253k
Typical home value
↑11.5%
+1.6%
YoY change
$1,473
Median rent
↑11.5%
6.99%
Gross yield
8
Median DOM
71/100
MDR score
Detail Value Detail Value
Median list price $268,000 Median sale price $239,167
Sale-to-list ratio 0.991 % sold below list +55.7%
Active inventory 1,244 New listings 506
Trends · 36-month series

How Cincinnati has moved.

Typical home value $227k → $253k · ↑11.5% (36mo)
$227k $235k $244k $253k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median rent (ZORI) $1k → $1k · ↑11.5% (36mo)
$1k $1k $1k $1k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median days on market 20d → 8d · ↓60.0% (36mo)
8d 12d 16d 20d Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26
Sale-to-list ratio 0.986 → 0.991 · ↑0.5% (36mo)
0.986 0.988 0.989 0.991 Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26

Cincinnati sits at a median home value of $252,784 as of the latest Zillow read, essentially flat year-over-year, which historically is the most workable environment for disciplined wholesalers.

The sale-to-list ratio of 0.991 signals a balanced market — neither bid wars nor fire sales dominate. 55.7% of closings land below list, leaving room to negotiate on the right deal but no broad discount across the board.

Rents tell a stronger story. The Zillow Observed Rent Index for Cincinnati is $1,473/mo against a $253k median — that’s a 6.99% gross annual rent yield, well above the national 4-5% baseline. BRRRR and long-term rental strategies have real cushion here.

Median days-on-market is running around 8 days against 1,244 active listings — that’s a fast-moving market. Speed is the moat; pre-arranged proof of funds and a tight buyers list are the difference between getting under contract and getting outbid.

MDR’s composite investor score for Cincinnati is 71/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. Solid mid-tier. A disciplined operator can build a real book here; a tourist will get hurt.

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FAQ

Cincinnati for investors.

Is Cincinnati a good market for real estate investors in 2026?

Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Cincinnati is 71/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. Cincinnati is a solid mid-tier market — workable for disciplined operators but not a top-of-list pick.

What is the median home price in Cincinnati?

The typical home value in Cincinnati as of the most recent Zillow read is $252,784. Median list price is $268,000 and median sale price is $239,167. Year-over-year change: +1.6%.

What can a landlord expect to rent a property for in Cincinnati?

Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Cincinnati is $1,473/mo. Against the typical home value of $253k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 6.99% — above the national 4-5% baseline, supportive of BRRRR and long-term rental strategies.

Is Cincinnati a buyer's or seller's market?

Cincinnati's current sale-to-list ratio is 0.991 with 55.7% of homes closing below list. That's a balanced market — neither side dominates. Median days on market: 8 days. Active inventory: 1,244 listings.

Which investment strategy works best in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati's data favors BRRRR and long-term rentals — strong gross yield with stable to appreciating prices. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/cincinnati, /brrrr/cincinnati, and /flipping/cincinnati.

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