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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 88046 (Mesilla, NM)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
4.7%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
2.0%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$1,059/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$285,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,120/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$13,440
Vacancy$672
Management$1,021
Property tax$1,347
Insurance$1,788
Maintenance$2,855
Net operating income$5,756
Loan payments$18,460
Cash flow-$12,703
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$285,472
Down payment (25%)$71,368
Loan$214,104
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$1,538
Cash in$79,932
Cash-on-cash return-15.9%
DSCR0.31
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$1,788 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for New Mexico, $1,490, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+1.5%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
10010511011512020222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$248,341
Aug 2022$279,496
Aug 2023$267,306
Aug 2024$287,358
Aug 2025$281,318
Aug 2026$285,472

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$800$1,020$1,120$1,560$1,700
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Las Cruces, NM MSA.

Property tax

Effective rate
0.47%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$1,347/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Dona Ana County: 0.67%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
9.2
Dona Ana County, last 12 months
National percentile
68th
among US counties

777 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
88001Las Cruces3.0 mi$206,000$9335.5%-$723
88047Mesilla Park6.0 mi$354,000$1,070*3.6%-$1,599
88005Las Cruces11.6 mi$277,000$1,2095.3%-$969
88048Mesquite11.9 mi$213,000$970*5.5%-$831
88007Las Cruces13.4 mi$326,000$970*3.6%-$1,516
88072Vado13.8 mi$269,000$970*4.3%-$1,061
88011Las Cruces15.0 mi$356,000$1,4955.0%-$1,257
88021Anthony16.9 mi$241,000$970*4.8%-$956

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Dona Ana CountyLas Cruces, NM metroNew Mexico

Run the numbers on a real listing

The calculator opens with this ZIP's figures. Swap in a listing's price and rent, your rate and your costs.

Open the calculator for 88046

Questions

Is 88046 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $285,000 and renting for $1,120 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 4.7% and the estimated cap rate is 2.0%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$1,059 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 88046?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 88046. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,120, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 88046?
The effective property tax rate is about 0.47% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $285,000 home that is about $1,347 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 88046 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 88046?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +1.5%.

Sources and method

Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.

Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.