1st Advantage MortgageIn Daytona Beach, FL, rental investors qualify on the property's rent instead of personal income. The market data behind that: $1,328 median rent, $287,700 median home value and 53% of households renting.
Daytona Beach rents, values and tenants
Renters who pay cash rent in Daytona Beach have a median gross rent of $1,328 a month, about 20% below the Florida median of $1,669, while owner-occupied homes carry a median value of $287,700. Annual median rent is about 5.5% of the median home value in Daytona Beach. That is neither especially thin nor especially rich, but it blends every housing type, so a house on a specific street needs its own rent comparables.
| Indicator | Florida | Daytona Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.51 | 2.08 | |
| Share of homes detached | 54.7% | 41.3% | -24% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 18.1% | 9.7% | -46% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 34.1% | 27.8% | -19% |
| Workers on their own account | 12.8% | 10.4% | -19% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 60.1% | 59.6% | -1% |
| Typical construction year | 1988 | 1981 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 5.6% | 5.5% | -1% |
| Households that rent | 32.4% | 52.5% | +62% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.76% | 0.69% | -10% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,730 | $1,976 | -28% |
| Household income, median | $74,568 | $52,058 | -30% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $359,000 | $287,700 | -20% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,669 | $1,328 | -20% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 22,416,077 | 78,992 |
A renter-heavy city, Daytona Beach has 52.5% of households renting (well above the Florida median of 32%), which is good for demand and a reminder to check rent comparables carefully. Household income runs a median $52,058 (well below the Florida median of $74,568), while 60% of renters spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
Housing stock and vacancy in Daytona Beach
Buildings with two or more units make up about 49% of Daytona Beach's housing, including 10% in two to four unit buildings and 20% in buildings of five to 19 units. A median build year of 1981 puts most of the stock in its second round of big repairs, and an inspector will show what remains.
Roughly 18% of units in Daytona Beach sit vacant, and the share of rentals available for rent is 8.0% at the survey's snapshot. About 8% of the housing units are classed as seasonal, recreational or occasional use, which is the footprint of a visitor economy and the reason nightly-rental rules deserve a close read.
Investor takeaways for Daytona Beach
A 5.5% gross yield makes Daytona Beach a market where the ratio is achievable but not automatic. A few hundred dollars of extra insurance or dues can decide a borderline file. With a 1981 median build year, the question for each property is when the roof and HVAC were last replaced. A large renter population (53%) supports leasing, though it also means many competing landlords, so condition and price positioning count.
Carrying costs in Daytona Beach
Property taxes in Daytona Beach run a median $1,976 a year for owners, well below the Florida median of $2,730. As a share of median value, that is about 0.69%. At the median rent that tax bill takes roughly 12% of a year's rent before insurance, dues or interest.
Volusia County carries a relatively high overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index, where lightning (very high), hurricanes (very high) and tornadoes (relatively high) rank highest.
| Hazard in Volusia County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Riverine flooding exposure | Relatively High |
| Tornadoes exposure | Relatively High |
| Hurricanes exposure | Very High |
| Lightning exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Moderate |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively High |
| Composite risk | Relatively High |
A Daytona Beach landlord policy is priced on roof, age, wiring and location, and the annual premium divided by twelve lands in the payment the lender tests.
What the Daytona Beach medians allow
The quick test for Daytona Beach: rent of $1,328 divided by a 1.25 ratio allows a total payment of $1,062, and subtracting $165 in monthly taxes leaves $898 for the loan, insurance and dues. At 1.00 the allowance is the full $1,163.
Legal checks before a Daytona Beach purchase
Local rental rules in Daytona Beach are not summarized here because we could not verify them from a city source. Ask the city and Volusia County about registration, inspection and short-term rental requirements, and confirm what an HOA allows. If you are weighing nightly income in Daytona Beach, the state tax backdrop is this. Florida requires a DBPR vacation rental license when a whole dwelling or condominium unit is rented more than three times in a calendar year for stays under 30 days, and the Department of Revenue taxes rentals of six months or less with sales tax plus county and local transient rental taxes.
Deposit limits are set by statute in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 83.49), and for Daytona Beach landlords the rule reads: No statutory cap. Deposits come due back within 15 days of the tenant leaving, and Daytona Beach owners should document condition at both ends of the lease. Ending a periodic tenancy in Daytona Beach: 30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly period from the landlord.
Statewide comparison for Daytona Beach
Other Florida markets on this site show median values from $247,500 (Gainesville) to $414,200 (West Palm Beach); Daytona Beach is $287,700.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 62% | $2,364 | $247,500 | 145,702 | $1,296 |
| St. Petersburg | 37% | $2,463 | $371,100 | 262,732 | $1,663 |
| West Palm Beach | 49% | $3,862 | $414,200 | 122,290 | $1,772 |
| Daytona Beach | 53% | $1,976 | $287,700 | 78,992 | $1,328 |
Who rents in Daytona Beach
Self-employment accounts for 10.4% of Daytona Beach's workforce, so many local investors earn income that a standard payroll-based mortgage underwrites poorly. Other workforce markers: government workers are about 10% of employment, 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Employers named in Wikipedia's Daytona Beach entry for 2019 include Volusia County School District, Halifax Health, Volusia County, Florida, AdventHealth Daytona Beach and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which is where many tenants earn the income that pays rent. Higher education in and around Daytona Beach includes Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach and University of Central Florida, which feeds demand for student, staff and faculty housing near campus. On the logistics side, interstate access via I-4 and air service through Daytona Beach International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are noted for Daytona Beach.
Taking a Daytona Beach deal to a lender
Run the Daytona Beach rent, tax and insurance figures through the DSCR calculator. When they clear the ratio, start an application or ask for a quote.
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Where we checked
- DBPR vacation rental guide
- Florida tax source: Florida DOR transient rental brochure
- 2020 to 2024 ACS data used for Daytona Beach
- FEMA county hazard table
- Wikipedia article, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Florida security deposit statute (Fla. Stat. § 83.49)
We took the Daytona Beach data from Census ACS five-year tables for 2020 to 2024, estimates with margins of error. For Florida tenant law we used RedFlagLease under CC BY 4.0 plus the linked statutes. Verified October 2026. Ordinances and statutes change, so confirm before acting.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Lease or market rent: what counts in Daytona Beach?
The property's own rent evidence decides: a lease, or the market rent from the appraisal. Citywide, Daytona Beach renters report a median of $1,328.
How do taxes and insurance affect a DSCR loan in Daytona Beach?
Yes, the payment includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance and association dues. At the Daytona Beach median rent of $1,328, a 1.25 ratio allows about $1,062 in total payment, of which roughly $165 a month goes to median taxes.
What does Volusia County charge in property tax, in practice?
Daytona Beach owners report a median $1,976 in annual real estate taxes, an effective 0.69% (Florida: 0.76%). Your own bill depends on the assessed value after purchase.
Will a lender count nightly rental income at a Daytona Beach property?
Often, with conditions: legal use under city and association rules, documented income and an insurance policy that covers guests. Daytona Beach owners should check all three first.
Are there deposit limits for Daytona Beach rentals?
Start with Fla. Stat. § 83.49. The limit: No statutory cap. Return window: 15 days. Talk to a Florida attorney for a lease form that matches.
What hazard risk does Daytona Beach carry for investors?
FEMA's index puts the county at relatively high overall. A lender cares about the premium and any flood requirement, which are address-specific in Daytona Beach.
Should a Daytona Beach rental be bought in an LLC?
Many Daytona Beach investors do, though no rule forces it. The loan is secured by the property either way, and the lender will check who controls the company.