Published market hub · May 2026
St. Louis, MO: a typical house misses 1.20x; the lender's ratio passes under about $144,800, and a house cash flows under about $130,300
At typical rent ($1,216, across rentals of all kinds, apartments included, not a house rent), a house at the typical price ($250,000) comes in at 0.70x, short of the 1.20x cushion. At the typical price, a house needs about $2,098 a month in rent to clear 1.20x. At $1,216 a month, the lender's 1.20x ratio works up to about $144,800 (a $108,600 loan); positive cash flow after a 25% set-aside for vacancy, repairs and management needs about $130,300. To clear both 1.20x and a $100,000 loan, a house has to cost between about $133,400 and $144,800; minimums vary by lender, so ask yours.
The numbers
DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance and any HOA dues). At 1.20x the rent is 20% more than the payment. We use 1.20x as a cushion; many DSCR lenders accept as low as 1.00x. A lender sizes the loan on the lease or the appraiser's estimate of market rent (Form 1007), often the lower of the two, not on a city figure.
Typical rent
$1,216/mo
A typical asking rent across rentals of all kinds, apartments included, not a house rent. This page has no 3-bedroom figure, so every ratio on this page uses this rent. A specific house can rent for more or less than this figure, so run the numbers on that house's own rent.
Max monthly payment
$1,013/mo
Typical rent ($1,216/mo) divided by 1.20 (a 1.20x DSCR). Taxes and insurance are included in this payment; budget vacancy and repairs on top. Check it against your own numbers.
Typical home value
$250,000
The typical home value for the city as a whole.
Rent-to-price
5.8%
A year of rent divided by the typical home value. Higher means the rent does more of the work.
A typical house
0.70x DSCR
A house at $250,000 renting for $1,216 a month falls short of 1.20x and loses about $836 a month after a 25% set-aside for vacancy, repairs and management. The lender's ratio works near $144,800 (42% lower); a house that rents for more, or a bigger down payment, also gets there.
Price that works
up to about $144,800
The most a house can cost at 1.20x if it rents for $1,216 a month. That clears the lender's ratio; to also cover a 25% set-aside for vacancy, repairs and management, the price needs to be near $130,300. At 1.00x, many lenders' floor, it is about $173,800, though lenders often charge more or lend less there. Every price here assumes the house rents for $1,216; check its own rent.
Assumptions for every price on this page: 25% down and a 7.5% 30-year rate. Property taxes about 1.4% and landlord insurance about 0.7% of the price a year, a rough estimate for Missouri rentals. No HOA dues; add them if the house has them.
ZIP codes
Where to start
We don't have usable ZIP-level prices and rents this month, so this page lists no ZIP codes.
Buy, refinance, or hold
What to do if you are buying, refinancing, or holding
Buying
Look for houses priced under about $144,800 that rent for at least $1,216 a month, or houses that rent for more; a house at the typical price ($250,000) misses 1.20x at this rent.
Refinancing
Consider refinancing on stabilized assets to capture lower rates. Stabilized means repaired and rented.
Holding
Hold properties with stable cash flow and low vacancy.
Application next step
Found a property here that works on your numbers?
Continue into Sphinx Capital's loan application when the rent on a specific property covers its full monthly payment with the 1.20x cushion. DSCRInfo will carry this market context into the application start.
If you apply with Sphinx Capital from this page, DSCRInfo may receive referral compensation. See disclosures
Risks
What could make this market stop working
- Limited rent data may affect cash-flow projections.
- High inventory supply may increase competition.
- Price stability may mask hidden costs.
Buying conditions
What else we see
- Strong sale-to-list ratio indicates potential for quick acquisitions.
About these numbers
How this page is built
Updated June 1, 2026. City rent and home value and listing activity come from public sources, including U.S. federal and government datasets and public property listings. They show whether a market is worth a look, not whether a specific house works.
Every county in Missouri, with rent, property tax, insurance, vacancy and jobs: Missouri rent, property tax and insurance by county.
Application next step
Ready to apply?
Apply with Sphinx Capital once the market numbers and your property's numbers agree.