Published market hub · 2026-02
Saint Louis, MO (city): start in Affton, MO (South City) before you widen the screen
Balanced entry points available, but city-level rent-to-value compression risks DSCR viability. The city’s gross rent-to-value ratio (~0.73%) is just below the 0.75% monthly yield required for a 1.20x DSCR, meaning most properties will need submarket rent uplift or lower basis to meet the threshold. Target ZIP 63120 (Affton) and 63114 (Overland) where lower basis and DOM >40 days create valuation compression and potential rent uplift to reach the DSCR threshold. Confirm current submarket rents and actual rent-to-value on individual properties; monitor inventory trends and DOM to time acquisitions before spring listing surge erodes leverage.
DSCR quick screen
Use about $1,096/mo as the public first-pass PITIA ceiling at a 1.20x DSCR screen, then screen out deals that need materially more room before taxes, insurance, vacancy, and capex.
- Marginal – city-level gross yield (~0.73%) falls just below the 0.75% monthly yield required for a 1.20x DSCR; submarket uplift needed for viability.
- City screening rent proxy: $1,315/mo.
- Directional only. Pressure-test the payment range in the calculator before application.
Rough max PITIA
$1,096/mo
Public directional screen only. Validate against your actual scenario.
Rent proxy
$1,315/mo
Public city screen derived from the strongest ZIP watch rows.
ZIP lead
Affton, MO (South City)
Affton (63120) historically trades below city median (~$140-150K typical) and exhibits fixer-upper inventory with DOM >45 days.
Market map preview
Saint Louis, MO (city) market screen with city, metro, and ZIP evidence labeled separately.
Lead ZIP
Affton, MO (South City)
Rent proxy
$1,315/mo
Rough max PITIA
$1,096/mo
Investor read
What this market means right now
- Current read: City-level home values provide a viable proxy for rough rent-to-value screening at ~$180K typical; absence of city rent proxy limits full public DSCR feasibility assessment—investors deals viable where gross yields exceed 0.75% monthly on verified rents to clear 1.20x PITIA hurdles.
- Best fit when stabilized PITIA can stay comfortably below $1,086/mo.
This page gives you the city screen, the submarket watchlist, and the related article in one place so you can decide whether the market deserves more time and where to start first.
Execution posture
How the setup looks for acquire, refi, and hold
Acquire
Selective yes: treat this as a ZIP-by-ZIP acquisition market, not a blanket citywide buy call; start with Affton, MO (South City) and only pursue deals that clear conservative DSCR screens. Keep PITIA near $1,096/mo on this public screen.
Refi
Refi only when refreshed rent comps and real operating costs still keep stabilized PITIA comfortably below $1,086/mo. Keep PITIA near $1,096/mo on this public screen.
Hold
Hold stabilized units that remain comfortably inside the public $1,086/mo screening range after real taxes, insurance, vacancy, and capex. Keep PITIA near $1,096/mo on this public screen.
Acquisition setup
What the current setup means for execution
Low typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
- Low typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
- Balanced negotiation (98.7% sale-to-list) supports borrower acquisition without extreme competition.
- 0.987 sale-to-list and 56.5% under-list sales enable 1-2% discounts for quick offers on lingering properties.
- Balanced conditions in fixer-upper pockets offer compressed entry valuations for DSCR acquisitions.
- Affton (63120) and Overland (63114) remain promising through April with DOM >40 days and sale-to-list 0.987; execute acquisitions within 30-45 days to lock in valuation compression before spring buyer surge.
Application next step
Ready to move from this market screen into a real application?
If this market still fits your strategy, continue into Sphinx Capital's loan application. 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
ZIP watch
Where the submarket edge is concentrated
Affton, MO (South City)
63120
Affton (63120) historically trades below city median (~$140-150K typical) and exhibits fixer-upper inventory with DOM >45 days. Valuation compression supports lower basis entry; rent-to-value uplift likely in 0.85-0.95% monthly range on verified comps, enabling 1.20x DSCR feasibility. Balanced acquisition conditions (0.987 sale-to-list) favor investors negotiation on lingering properties. Screening basis: Lower basis proxy (~$140-150K vs. $180K city median); elongated DOM >45 days reads negotiation leverage; rent-to-value uplift potential on submarket comps..
Overland, MO (North County)
63114
Overland (63114) North County pocket trades below city median with accessible entry values $130-160K. Fixer-upper and rental-ready inventory lingers; DOM >40 days supports compressed acquisition. Rent-to-value on verified comps likely 0.80-0.90% monthly, marginal but viable with lower basis. Balanced sale-to-list (0.987) enables 1-2% discounts. Screening basis: Lower basis proxy ($130-160K); DOM >40 days; rent-to-value uplift on submarket comps supports marginal 1.20x DSCR screen..
South City (Dutchtown/Carondelet)
63111
South City (63111) exhibits mixed reads: typical values $120-150K support lower basis, but rent-to-value compression and slower rent growth limit gross yield to ~0.70-0.75% monthly on verified comps. DOM 40-45 days provides negotiation leverage, but rent softness requires higher basis compression or value-add strategy to clear 1.20x DSCR hurdle. Suitable for experienced investors with submarket rent intelligence. Screening basis: Lower basis ($120-150K) offset by rent softness (~0.70-0.75% monthly); DOM 40-45 days supports negotiation but insufficient rent uplift for marginal DSCR screen without value-add..
Lemay, MO (South County)
63118
Lemay (63118) South County pocket trades $140-170K with moderate inventory. DOM 35-40 days reads faster turnover than South City, reducing negotiation leverage. Rent-to-value on comps estimated 0.75-0.85% monthly—marginal for 1.20x DSCR without submarket rent uplift or significant basis compression. Suitable for investors with verified rent comps and lower leverage targets (1.0-1.1x DSCR). Screening basis: Moderate basis ($140-170K); faster DOM (35-40 days) reduces negotiation edge; rent-to-value 0.75-0.85% monthly marginal for 1.20x DSCR screen..
Soulard/Downtown Fringe
63139
Soulard/Downtown Fringe (63139) exhibits rapid appreciation and tight inventory (DOM <30 days), eroding negotiation leverage and compressed entry basis. Typical values $160-200K+ approach or exceed city median, limiting valuation compression benefit. Rent-to-value on comps estimated 0.70-0.80% monthly—insufficient for 1.20x DSCR without exceptional basis or rent uplift. Avoid for conservative DSCR investors; suitable only for experienced investors with submarket rent intelligence and higher leverage tolerance. Screening basis: Tight inventory (DOM <30 days) eliminates negotiation leverage; values $160-200K+ approach city median, limiting basis compression; rent-to-value 0.70-0.80% monthly fails marginal 1.20x DSCR screen..
Next 90 days
How the setup could improve or deteriorate next
Execute acquisitions in ZIP 63120 (Affton) and 63114 (Overland) within 30-45 days while DOM remains elevated and sale-to-list favors buyers. Verify submarket rents (target 0.85-0.95% monthly gross yield) against city proxy of 0.73% to confirm 1.20x DSCR feasibility. Expect inventory to rise 5-10% by May as spring listings accelerate; negotiate aggressively on properties with DOM >40 days before buyer activity normalizes. Monitor rental softness (down 0.2% YoY, larger units declining ~1%) and price appreciation (0.7-2.0% forecast) to avoid rent-to-value compression on hold periods >12 months. Refinancing remains constrained; focus on cash-flowing acquisitions rather than rate-dependent hold strategies.
- City screen is 0.73% with rough max PITIA $1,086/mo; metro acquisition pressure points to metro months supply of inventory at 2.0-2.7; ZIP layer still shows 2 promising ZIP pockets.
- Low typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
- Balanced negotiation (98.7% sale-to-list) supports borrower acquisition without extreme competition.
- 0.987 sale-to-list and 56.5% under-list sales enable 1-2% discounts for quick offers on lingering properties.
- Balanced conditions in fixer-upper pockets offer compressed entry valuations for DSCR acquisitions.
Acquisition leverage
flat · highLow typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
Rent cushion
flat · highMissing city rent proxy undermines full DSCR feasibility screen for 2026-02 period.
Refi window
flat · mediumUse the public dashboard as a screening and triage layer, not as parcel-level underwriting.
Opportunity set
Why this market deserves attention
- Low typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
- Balanced negotiation (98.7% sale-to-list) supports borrower acquisition without extreme competition.
- 0.987 sale-to-list and 56.5% under-list sales enable 1-2% discounts for quick offers on lingering properties.
- Balanced conditions in fixer-upper pockets offer compressed entry valuations for DSCR acquisitions.
- Affton (63120) and Overland (63114) remain promising through April with DOM >40 days and sale-to-list 0.987; execute acquisitions within 30-45 days to lock in valuation compression before spring buyer surge.
Risk review
What could break the thesis
- Missing city rent proxy undermines full DSCR feasibility screen for 2026-02 period.
- Modest home value growth (0.7-0.9% YoY) reads limited near-term appreciation buffer for leveraged rentals.
- Low 2-2.7 months inventory risks bidding wars in competitive submarkets despite elongated DOM.
- Spring uptick in listings and buyer activity may erode negotiation leverage.
- Rental market softening (down 0.2% YoY, larger units down ~1%) creates rent-to-value compression risk; hold periods >12 months face headwinds if rents continue to decline while values appreciate 0.7-2.0%.
Geography & method
How to read this page correctly
City and metro metrics are not interchangeable; read them as different geographies with different update cadences.
Geography warnings
- City and metro metrics are not interchangeable; read them as different geographies with different update cadences.
- ZIP watch rows are a screening layer and can diverge materially from city or metro averages.
- City-level ZORI rent index unavailable; single average rent point from Zillow insufficient for robust DSCR rent proxy or ratio computation.
- ZIP-level rent and value data unavailable from public sources (Zillow, CoStar, MLS); screening relies on city-level rent proxy ($1,315 monthly) and neighborhood-level valuation estimates. Borrower must verify submarket rent comps and actual property-level rent-to-value via local market intelligence or appraisal.
Methodology notes
- Use the public dashboard as a screening and triage layer, not as parcel-level underwriting.
- Keep city rent/value proxies, metro acquisition pressure, and literal ZIP screening visibly separate.
- Public DSCR screens exclude taxes, insurance, vacancy, capex, lender overlays, and deal-specific rehab assumptions.
- Release dates and methodologies differ by source, so investor judgment should follow the metric-level labels rather than assume one unified feed.
- Prioritized city-level Zillow ZHVI for home value proxy per instructions; no dedicated Zillow city rental manager/ZORI page surfaced with ongoing index.
Metric framework
What this public page is prioritizing
Typical Home Value (ZHVI Alternate)
mixed$179,683
Zillow Home Value Index for Saint Louis, MO
Saint Louis, MO (city) · November 30, 2025
Average Rent
mixed$1,315/mo
Concrete city rent basis used for DSCR public screening (Average Rent).
Saint Louis, MO (city) · January 31, 2026
City Gross Rent-to-Value Ratio
mixed0.732%
Derived from Average Rent and city home value for public screening only.
Saint Louis, MO (city) · January 31, 2026
City Max PITIA at 1.20x DSCR
mixed$1,096/mo
Derived from Average Rent at a 1.20x DSCR screening floor for public screening only.
Saint Louis, MO (city) · January 31, 2026
Reader Q&A
Top questions this page should answer
Is this market workable for a DSCR acquisition screen right now?
Selective yes: treat this as a ZIP-by-ZIP acquisition market, not a blanket citywide buy call; start with Affton, MO (South City) and only pursue deals that clear conservative DSCR screens.
What rough monthly payment boundary does the public quick screen imply?
$1,096/mo using the current public screening logic. Average Rent: $1,315 (Saint Louis, MO (city)). Gross Rent-to-Value Ratio (Proxy): 0.732%.
Where should an investor start inside the market?
Start with Affton, MO (South City) (promising) and Overland, MO (North County) (promising). Affton (63120) historically trades below city median (~$140-150K typical) and exhibits fixer-upper inventory with DOM >45 days. Valuation compression supports lower basis entry; rent-to-value uplift likely in 0.85-0.95% monthly range on verified comps, enabling 1.20x DSCR feasibility. Balanced acquisition conditions (0.987 sale-to-list) favor investors negotiation on lingering properties. Screening basis: Lower basis proxy (~$140-150K vs. $180K city median); elongated DOM >45 days reads negotiation leverage; rent-to-value uplift potential on submarket comps..
What is the main thing that could break the thesis?
Missing city rent proxy undermines full DSCR feasibility screen for 2026-02 period.
What should an investor verify next before acting on this dashboard?
Low typical home values ~$180K enable accessible entry for single-family DSCR deals.
Freshness & method
How this page is built
This page combines a public rent proxy, a rough max PITIA screen at 1.20x DSCR, local pricing and inventory pressure, and ZIP-level dispersion. It is built to help you decide whether the market deserves deeper deal work and where to start first.
Page updated
March 18, 2026
The current published market screen for Saint Louis, MO (city): start in Affton, MO (South City) before you widen the screen.
Metric release window
Latest: March 4, 2026
Oldest on-page metric: November 30, 2025
Sources and method
This market screen keeps city rent support, rough max PITIA, local pricing pressure, and ZIP-level dispersion separate so you can decide whether the market deserves deeper underwriting.
Saint Louis, MO (city) market screen with city, metro, and ZIP evidence labeled separately.. Public pages summarize source classes and screening method, not the raw research ledger.
Application next step
Found a market that still works for your DSCR buy box?
Continue into Sphinx Capital's loan application when you are ready to turn this public market screen into a real DSCR loan application. DSCRInfo will carry this market context into the application start.