Market report · OH

Cleveland, OH

Balanced's market

Cash-flow-friendly fundamentals: 14.5% gross rent yield and 58% of sales closing below list make Cleveland a steady BRRRR and rental market.

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

$118k
Typical home value
↑11.4%
-2.1%
YoY change
$1,425
Median rent
↑17.4%
14.53%
Gross yield
14
Median DOM
78/100
MDR score
Detail Value Detail Value
Median list price $141,417 Median sale price $115,083
Sale-to-list ratio 0.981 % sold below list +57.6%
Active inventory 1,071 New listings 353
Trends · 36-month series

How Cleveland has moved.

Typical home value $106k → $118k · ↑11.4% (36mo)
$106k $111k $115k $120k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median rent (ZORI) $1k → $1k · ↑17.4% (36mo)
$1k $1k $1k $1k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median days on market 23d → 14d · ↓39.1% (36mo)
14d 17d 20d 23d Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26
Sale-to-list ratio 0.981 → 0.981 · ↑0.0% (36mo)
0.980 0.981 0.981 0.981 Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26

Cleveland sits at a median home value of $117,703 as of the latest Zillow read, down 2.1% year-over-year — a meaningful softening that’s putting deal flow back on the table for cash buyers.

The sale-to-list ratio of 0.981 signals a balanced market — neither bid wars nor fire sales dominate. 57.6% 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 Cleveland is $1,425/mo against a $118k median — that’s a 14.53% 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 14 days against 1,071.333 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 Cleveland is 78/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. That puts it in our top tier — actively recommended for new capital deployment this cycle.

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FAQ

Cleveland for investors.

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

Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Cleveland is 78/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. That puts Cleveland in our top tier — actively recommended for new capital deployment this cycle.

What is the median home price in Cleveland?

The typical home value in Cleveland as of the most recent Zillow read is $117,703. Median list price is $141,417 and median sale price is $115,083. Year-over-year change: -2.1%.

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

Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Cleveland is $1,425/mo. Against the typical home value of $118k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 14.53% — above the national 4-5% baseline, supportive of BRRRR and long-term rental strategies.

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

Cleveland's current sale-to-list ratio is 0.981 with 57.6% of homes closing below list. That's a balanced market — neither side dominates. Median days on market: 14 days. Active inventory: 1,071 listings.

Which investment strategy works best in Cleveland?

Cleveland's data favors a mixed approach — no single strategy dominates, so selective deal sourcing wins. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/cleveland, /brrrr/cleveland, and /flipping/cleveland.

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