2023 Housing Market Overview for Real Estate Investors
Cleveland Real Estate Market 2023
Learn trends and real estate statistics about the Cleveland real estate market to determine if it’s a strong place for your next single family or multi family home investment.
Cleveland Real Estate Market Trends and Statistics for Real Estate Investors 2023
Cleveland has a population of 372,101 people, making it the second-largest city in Ohio. Cleveland’s growth is driven by industrial, healthcare, and tech companies that are drawn to the metro’s affordable cost of living and friendly business environment. In a recent report by Redfin, Cleveland was named the 5th most resilient housing market in the U.S. This means that Cleveland’s real estate market will continue to grow for years to come. In this section we explore why Cleveland is one of the strongest real estate markets of 2022. We will look at factors such as job growth, population growth and equity growth potential. Learn more about Cleveland’s housing market, population and employment trends in the tabs above.
Data Sources:
- www.census.gov
- www.deptofnumbers.com
- www.zillow.com
- RealWealth Property Team Data
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Cleveland Housing Market Trends
In this section, we’ll discuss the median home value and rents in 2023 and over the last seven years. These trends are important for real estate investors to understand affordability and equity growth opportunities in Cleveland.
Home prices in Cleveland are below the national average.
Median Home Value
The data in this chart is based on the average single family home in Cleveland and the United States as of December 2022.
The average home value in Cleveland is $213,457. That’s 37.82% less than the national average of $343,292. If you’re looking for a good ROI on your real estate investments, Cleveland is the place to be. The average rent to value ratio for Cleveland investment properties is 0.63%, which is 9.79% greater than the national average. The price to rent ratio in Cleveland is 13.3, which makes owning a house a bit more affordable than renting. Yet more than half (58%) of Cleveland households rent their homes. This means there’s a huge demand for rental housing in the area—and that means opportunities for buy and hold real estate investors!
Cleveland rents are affordable compared to many markets around the nation
Median Monthly Rent
The data in this chart is based on the average single family home in Cleveland and the United States as of December 2022.
Cleveland is one of the most affordable cities for renters in the United States. In 2022, the average rent for single family rentals or apartments in the Cleveland metro area is $1,336 per month. That’s 32% cheaper than the national average price for similar properties! If you’re looking to invest in property, you’ll find that there are a large number of foreclosures around for investors who want to buy distressed real estate. And no matter what type of property you choose to buy, Cleveland offers opportunities to generate steady monthly cash flow.
Cleveland has been appreciating at a steady rate
Median Home Value (2014-2022)
+78%
8%
Cleveland rents have also been rising rising.
Median Monthly Rent (2014-2022)
+40%
3%
Since 2014, Cleveland’s median rents have appreciated by a total of 39.48%, about 3.17% lower than the national total rent appreciation rate for the same period. The average yearly rate of rent appreciation in Cleveland over the past 8 years is 4.88%. Based on listings in active status, Greater Cleveland’s highest median rents are in Beachwood, ZIP code 44122 ($2,215), Cleveland’s ZIP code 44115 ($1,958) and North Olmsted’s ZIP code 44070 ($1,800).
Cleveland Population Trends
One of the most promising signs of a strong real estate market is population growth. In this section, we’ll discuss what’s happening in the Cleveland metro in that area.
Cleveland's population has been stable.
Population Growth
0%
100%
In the last eight years, population growth in Cleveland has been static. The Cleveland metro area population has hovered around 2,075,000 since 2010. But as Cleveland continues to attract jobs and new residents, as well as new housing developments, it’s poised for future growth. Developers estimate that in the next five to ten years, Cleveland’s University circle neighborhood alone will need up to 10,000 housing units. Those units could be satisfied with at least several dozen large apartment buildings and hundreds of townhomes.
Cleveland Employment Trends
Another sign of a good place to invest in real estate is a strong economy. In this section, we’ll discuss what’s happening in with jobs in Cleveland.
Cleveland has been experiencing some job growth.
Job Growth
27,799
2.69%
The Cleveland-Akron area is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies, five of which are in Cleveland, two in Akron and one each in Mayfield, Westlake and Wickliffe. They include Progressive Insurance Company, Cardinal Health Inc., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, FirstEnergy Corp., Parker Hannifin Corp., TravelCenters of America Inc., and J.M. Smucker Co. MoneyGeek ranked Cleveland on its list of the best cities for job seekers in 2022. The Cleveland area’s unemployment rate is 6.8%, close to the national average of 6.0%. But job growth has been positive in recent years. According to the Department of Numbers, Cleveland gained 31,500 new jobs between July 2021 and July 2022, an increase of 3.07%. The healthcare and social assistance industry is the biggest employer of labor in Cleveland.
Major employers in Cleveland
Why Invest in the Cleveland Housing Market Today
In this section, we’ll recap what we’ve covered above in terms of Cleveland’s housing market trends, population trends and employment trends to help you understand what makes Cleveland a strong place to invest in 2023.
Affordable Real Estate
The Cleveland housing market ranks among the least costly of major metropolitan areas in the US. In fact, you can find homes for as little as $109,900 that will rent for $1,150 per month. This means there’s a good opportunity for cash flow in this market. You can also hunt for bargains in Cleveland by purchasing distressed properties at low prices. However, some of these homes require major repairs due to neglect over the years.
Steady home appreciation
Strong renter’s market
Startup-friendly location
Cleveland is a great place to start a business. In fact, the city was ranked among the top 50+ entrepreneur-friendly cities in the United States in 2015. And it’s not just startups that are flocking to Cleveland—established companies are coming here, too! The state of Ohio itself offers a number of business-friendly incentives, including affordable commercial space, a skilled and high-quality workforce, and a 0% tax rate on corporate income. Venture capital firms and angel investment networks like North Coast Angel Fund and Akron Archangels are helping to fund startups in Cleveland.
Steady job growth
Cleveland is home to a number of global companies and institutions, as well as several smaller businesses that have found success in the city. The Department of Numbers reported that Cleveland added 31,500 new jobs between July 2021 and July 2022, a 3.07% increase in jobs. Despite experiencing weaker job growth than some of its peers, Cleveland’s per capita GDP surpassed several Sun Belt cities such as Phoenix and San Antonio. The GDP of Cleveland was $114.3 billion in 2020, an increase of more than 6% over the past decade. Healthcare is expected to be a major source of job growth in Cleveland. From 2015 to 2025, an estimated 85,000 new jobs will have been created in this sector.
High quality of life
Cleveland has a lot to offer, and one of its biggest selling points is its cost of living. It’s 27.4% lower than the national average, so housing, groceries, transportation, utilities and entertainment are all notably less expensive here. The seventh best food city in America according to TIME magazine, Cleveland has a mix of upscale restaurants and classic staples. The city has a bike-sharing program that makes cycling an option for getting around.
Newsworthy Building and Developments in Cleveland
Planned developments can help you as an investor to estimate how the value of your investment property might change in the future. Here are some notable projects in the works in Cleveland right now:
The Opportunity Corridor
The Opportunity Corridor is a three-mile, $257 million freeway project linking University Circle and the freeway. Phase 3 of the Opportunity Corridor project is currently under construction, and will create a new roadway from I-490/East 55th Street to East 93rd Street. The roadway is expected to be completed by fall 2022. This project is a 35-mph urban boulevard with a wide median and traffic lights at intersections built to help spark economic development in a neighborhood of Cleveland dubbed the “Forgotten Triangle.”
City Club Apartments
City Club Apartments is a mixed-use apartment building with office and retail space that is being built in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Construction began in December 2021, and pre-leasing is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022. The building’s projected construction costs range from $85 million to $100 million, based on the cost of two other Euclid Avenue apartment towers built in the last two years — Beacon and Lumen. Overlooking Euclid Avenue and Public Square, City Club Apartments features 304 luxury apartments and penthouses, a restaurant and retail space, and a dog daycare. The 250,000-square-foot tower is proposed to reach 241 feet in structural height and a rooftop decorative element could bring that to about 250 feet.
Sherwin Williams Global Headquarters
Sherwin-Williams, the paints and coatings manufacturing company, is building a new Global Headquarters in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The new building is estimated to be one million square feet and will include a two-story pavilion facing Public Square, a 36-floor office tower and an attached parking garage. It is expected to open by the end of 2024.
The Centennial
The Centennial Building is a renovation project transforming the former Centennial Bank building, which was built in 1923, into a modern office and residential building. The project is expected to cost around $450 million, with much of the money coming from a combination of public and private partnerships. In March, Ohio awarded the Centennial Project $40 million in tax credits to help make the renovation possible. The project will include a mix of commercial office spaces and affordable housing options. Image Credit: McCartan and Nova Concepts
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