If you happen to’re an investor who’s regarded out-of-state (OOS) for money circulation, you’ve most likely run throughout Memphis, Tennessee, at one level or one other. I initially dismissed all the market as a result of its crime statistics and inhabitants stagnation. However that evaluation is sort of unfair: Actual property is hyperlocal, and there are particular neighborhoods with very low crime and stable development.
And residential values within the Memphis metro space have elevated by 44.12% during the last 5 years, based on Reventure.
Memphis, TN MSA Highlights
Listed here are some highlights concerning the Memphis market.
- Median worth: $265,200
- Median hire: $1,600
- Hire-to-price ratio: 0.60%
- Unemployment price: 4.5%
Single-family rental charges in Memphis grew by 6.1% in 2024. And economists “predict that residence costs in Memphis will enhance by 10.5%, which might be one of many highest share will increase within the nation,” based on the Metropolis of Memphis’s Annual Complete Monetary Report.
The metro additionally doesn’t seem like including anyplace close to as a lot housing provide as its neighboring metros:
Don’t let the graph deceive you: Whereas 4,205 models have been permitted for development in 2024, the metro has a complete estimated unit rely of 576,520, which means solely 0.73% of its whole unit provide was permitted for development. The nationwide common is 1.09%. For reference, Nashville permitted 2.29% of its whole models for brand spanking new development (that’s greater than thrice the quantity of relative provide Memphis has permitted).
So why does this matter? Builders aren’t constructing right here as a lot as they’re on common throughout the nation. Which means there’s no wave of provide at present being constructed (which might put downward stress on costs and rents). This is mostly a good factor for present traders so long as they purchase in a fascinating neighborhood—which I’ll get into in a minute.
Subsequent, let’s focus on Memphis’ job market.
The Memphis Job Market
First, the unemployment price is on par with america common (4.2%). And Memphis stays one of many largest logistical hubs of America: Memphis Worldwide Airport is the second-largest cargo airport on this planet (No. 1 is in Hong Kong).
The metro can be residence to 3 Fortune 500 firms: FedEx, AutoZone, and Worldwide Paper (the biggest paper firm on Earth). Many large firms even have distribution amenities right here, equivalent to Nike and Williams-Sonoma.
The medical trade can be rising right here. In keeping with a brand new report by the Better Memphis Financial Analysis Group, “Buoyed by its globally acknowledged hospitals and one of many nation’s most sturdy medical system manufacturing sectors, the healthcare and life science trade of Better Memphis grew its financial output by 45.2% over the previous decade regardless of pandemic-driven job loss.”
St. Jude Kids’s Analysis Hospital additionally launched an $11.5 billion enlargement to enhance its analysis and scientific remedies.
Medical gadgets aren’t the one factor the Memphis metro is manufacturing. In keeping with Ford Motor Firm’s web site:
“Ford plans to make the largest-ever U.S. funding in electrical automobiles at one time by any automotive producer and, along with its accomplice, SK Innovation, plans to take a position $11.4 billion and create almost 11,000 new jobs on the Tennessee and Kentucky mega-sites… An all-new $5.6 billion mega campus in Stanton, Tenn., referred to as BlueOval Metropolis, will create roughly 6,000 new jobs and reimagine how automobiles and batteries are manufactured.”
The Memphis Suburbs
The suburbs of Memphis are secure, have nice public colleges, and even have inexpensive homes with nice rent-to-price ratios. Let’s get into particular person markets that may make nice areas for OOS traders to buy cash-flowing properties.
1. Olive Department, Mississippi

Houses in Olive Department are priced larger than the town of Memphis ($335,000), however hire for a mean of $2,000, based on Zillow. This offers Olive Department a rent-to-price ratio of 0.60%.
The city, which is barely 24 miles away from the center of downtown Memphis, has additionally seen stable inhabitants development over the previous 5 years (an estimated 22.7% enhance), definitely benefiting from individuals transferring out of interior Memphis and into the suburbs.
Zillow additionally claims the present rental market is scorching, which means there may be numerous demand for leases. This might be a wonderful marketplace for OOS traders.
2. Southaven, Mississippi

The median residence worth in Southaven is cheaper than Olive Department ($271,000), and so is the typical hire ($1,600). However this implies the rent-to-price ratio is about the identical (0.59%).
Southaven is the third-most populous metropolis in Mississippi, and it’s the biggest suburb of Memphis by inhabitants. Like Olive Department, it’s additionally nonetheless rising.
3. Bartlett, Tennessee

Just like Southaven, Bartlett is extra inexpensive than Olive Department with a median worth of $308,000. However what’s extra fascinating is that, based on Zillow, the typical hire is about $2,000, making Bartlett’s rent-to-price ratio the perfect of the three suburbs at 0.65%.
On the flip facet, it really misplaced 5.8% of its inhabitants over the identical time interval that Southaven and Olive Department grew. Whereas it is perhaps simpler to money circulation right here, it might not respect as shortly as the opposite two suburbs as a result of inhabitants stagnation.
There is no such thing as a such factor as a “free lunch” in actual property markets: Cities which have robust money circulation typically don’t have as robust inhabitants development. Because of this, it’s necessary to work with a boots-on-the-ground professional like an investor-friendly actual property agent and property supervisor that can assist you navigate native neighborhoods.
Or you might work with an end-to-end firm that helps you discover, purchase, and handle turnkey rental properties. One such firm that makes a speciality of the Memphis market is Memphis Funding Properties.
Need Assist Buying Money-Flowing Properties in Memphis?
Memphis Funding Properties presents a turnkey answer for traders looking for cash-flowing rental properties in Memphis. With a seasoned crew dealing with every little thing from acquisition to property administration, they make passive earnings actually hands-off. Their native experience and dedication to high quality make sure that traders can confidently construct their actual property portfolios. If you happen to’re curious whether or not they’re an excellent match for you, click on to be taught extra about their course of.