Investor Guide · Updated 2025

Section 8 Rents by State 2025

HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) set the maximum amount a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) covers in each metro area. As a landlord, your rent must be at or below the FMR to accept vouchers — and most markets allow you to charge market rent if that's lower. Here's the 2025 FMR data by state.

State1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BRNotes
Alabama$820$1,040$1,350$1,580Strong Section 8 market. High voucher acceptance in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Florida$1,290$1,590$2,010$2,420FMRs vary significantly by metro. Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville are active markets.
Georgia$1,050$1,320$1,680$1,970Atlanta MSA has the highest FMRs in the state. Macon and Columbus are more affordable.
Ohio$820$1,030$1,340$1,520Affordable markets with high Section 8 demand. Cleveland, Dayton, and Columbus.
Texas$1,050$1,310$1,680$2,010Houston and DFW dominate. High landlord participation rate.
Michigan$870$1,100$1,420$1,660Detroit area has deep Section 8 pool. Grand Rapids growing rapidly.
Pennsylvania$980$1,230$1,590$1,840Philadelphia suburbs command premium FMRs. Pittsburgh more affordable.
Indiana$810$1,010$1,300$1,490One of the most landlord-friendly states. Strong Section 8 program.
Tennessee$990$1,240$1,590$1,840Nashville and Memphis are primary markets. Memphis has highest Section 8 density.
North Carolina$1,010$1,260$1,610$1,870Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro growing. Moderate FMRs statewide.
Missouri$790$990$1,270$1,470St. Louis and Kansas City dominate. Very affordable for investors.
Illinois$1,010$1,270$1,630$1,890Chicago metro pushes FMRs up. Central/Southern Illinois far more affordable.
Virginia$1,250$1,560$1,980$2,320Northern Virginia (DC suburbs) has premium FMRs. Richmond and Hampton Roads moderate.
Arizona$1,060$1,340$1,710$2,020Phoenix metro growing rapidly. Tucson more affordable with strong Section 8 program.
South Carolina$940$1,180$1,510$1,760Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston growing. Strong landlord participation.

Why Invest in Section 8?

Guaranteed rent — HUD pays the landlord's portion directly, on time, every month
Long-term tenancy — Section 8 tenants move far less frequently than market-rate tenants
Above-market rents in some metros — FMRs can exceed what the private market will pay
Stable demand — housing voucher waitlists have 100,000s of applicants nationally
Property inspections required — HUD standards keep units maintained

How to Calculate Section 8 DSCR

Use the FMR as your rent input in a DSCR calculation. If the 2BR FMR is $1,320 and your PITI payment is $980, your DSCR is 1.35 — a strong qualifier for a DSCR loan.

Formula
DSCR = Section 8 FMR ÷ Monthly PITI

Find Section 8-Ready Properties

Verleon AI shows HUD FMR rent estimates on every property — filter by Section 8 DSCR, zip code, and price range across all 50 states.

Search Section 8 deals →