According to Zillow, a large majority of homes in 25 of the 35 biggest U.S. markets could be purchased by a small investor and rented out for a profit. In each of these markets, at least 70 percent of homes can be rented out for more than their fixed monthly expenses, and in 17 of them, 90 percent or more of the homes meet that criteria. The top three cities where being a landlord pays are Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Cincinnati, Ohio. In a handful of large West Coast and Northeast markets, however, the price-rent equation doesn’t pencil out.
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