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West Virginia market guide
DSCR loans in Huntington, WV
Rental financing for Huntington investors, qualified on the property's rent.
A DSCR loan in Huntington turns on rent versus payment. Citywide medians from the Census are $912 a month for rent, $127,200 for home value and $909 a year for real estate taxes.
Huntington rents, values and tenants
The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey puts median gross rent in Huntington at $912, close to the West Virginia median of $872. Median home value sits at $127,200, which is about 22% below the West Virginia median of $162,600. Dividing a year of median rent by the median home value gives a gross rent-to-value ratio of 8.6%, a comparatively strong gross ratio for a metro area. It mixes apartments and houses, so treat it as a compass and not as the number for any one property.
| Indicator | West Virginia | Huntington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.37 | 2.14 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 4.9% | 12.2% | +149% |
| Share of homes detached | 70.9% | 65.2% | -8% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 17.5% | 8.9% | -49% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 24.1% | 35.3% | +46% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 48.9% | 62.7% | +28% |
| Units sitting vacant | 15.4% | 17.3% | +12% |
| Typical construction year | 1976 | 1955 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 6.4% | 8.6% | +34% |
| Households that rent | 25.1% | 46.7% | +86% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.53% | 0.71% | +34% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $865 | $909 | +5% |
| Household income, median | $59,608 | $45,100 | -24% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $162,600 | $127,200 | -22% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 1,778,373 | 45,787 |
The renter share is 46.7% in Huntington, well above the West Virginia median of 25%, a sizable rental market. Median household income is $45,100, about 24% below the West Virginia median of $59,608, and 63% of renter households pay 30 percent or more of income on rent.
Housing mix and age in Huntington
Detached houses are 65% of all units in Huntington. That mix favors single-family rentals and makes small multifamily scarcer and, sometimes, more valuable. Housing here skews old (median year built 1955), so condition and the age of major systems matter as much as the rent.
About 17% of Huntington's housing units are vacant, and the rental vacancy rate (units for rent against rented plus for-rent units) works out to 7.2%.
What stands out in Huntington
At 8.6% gross, Huntington sits toward the higher-yield end of the markets we track, which helps the ratio but can signal neighborhoods where condition and turnover need close inspection. Age is the main physical risk here: median year built 1955 points to deferred maintenance in a share of listings. With about 47% of households renting, Huntington has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.
The payment side of the Huntington ratio
Tax drag is easy to underestimate. Huntington owners report a median $909 in annual real estate taxes, close to the West Virginia median of $865, an effective 0.71% of median home value. That is about 8% of a year of median rent gone to taxes before the loan is even counted.
County-level hazard data from FEMA (National Risk Index 1.20) shows Cabell County with relatively moderate overall risk and ice storms (relatively high), riverine flooding (relatively moderate) and heat waves (relatively moderate) at the top of the list.
| Hazard in Cabell County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Landslides exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat waves exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Riverine flooding exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice storms exposure | Relatively High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Moderate |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
In Cabell and Wayne Counties, as anywhere, the premium is part of PITIA, which means a quote with the roof, age and flood zone of the actual Huntington address belongs in your file early.
A worked DSCR test for Huntington
Take the median rent ($912), subtract median taxes spread over twelve months ($76), and you have $836 of room at a 1.00 ratio. A lender asking for 1.25 cuts that to $654. Real quotes for the address decide the rest.
What WV law and Huntington require of landlords
This page does not claim to list every Huntington rental ordinance. Before you buy, call the city's planning or code office and Cabell and Wayne Counties to ask about rental registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and read any association declaration. On lodging taxes, a Huntington host should read this first. West Virginia taxes lodging rentals of 30 consecutive days or less, so owners register with the State Tax Department and collect state and municipal sales tax, while county or municipal hotel occupancy taxes are separate and locally administered.
Deposits come due back within 60 days of the tenant leaving, and Huntington owners should document condition at both ends of the lease.
Comparing Huntington with surrounding markets
Prices in the comparison range from $203,300 in Charleston to $210,500 in Hurricane, with Huntington at $127,200.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 37% | $1,447 | $203,300 | 47,421 | $908 |
| Hurricane | 33% | $1,486 | $210,500 | 6,855 | $878 |
| Huntington | 47% | $909 | $127,200 | 45,787 | $912 |
What fills Huntington rentals
Self-employment accounts for 7.2% of Huntington's workforce, so many local investors earn income that a standard payroll-based mortgage underwrites poorly. Other workforce markers: government workers are about 21% of employment, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Colleges tied to Huntington include Marshall University Memorial Fountain, and campus-adjacent streets often rent to students and staff on a school-year rhythm. Access runs through interstate access via I-64 and air service through Tri-State Airport, which shapes where commuters want to live and how long a showing takes.
Putting a Huntington file together
A good Huntington file has four pieces: rent evidence, a tax estimate, an insurance quote and cash. Preview the ratio in the calculator, then apply or talk to us.
More West Virginia markets
- All West Virginia DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Hurricane, WV
- DSCR loans in Charleston, WV
- Every market we cover
Sources and data notes
- American Community Survey tables, West Virginia
- FEMA county hazard table
- Wikipedia article, Huntington, West Virginia
- Deposit statute: W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2, 37-6A-3, 37-6A-5
- State rule cited for Huntington hosts: West Virginia State Tax Department, TSD 316
We took the Huntington data from Census ACS five-year tables for 2020 to 2024, estimates with margins of error. The West Virginia legal summaries are from the RedFlagLease dataset, licensed CC BY 4.0, with statute links. Last reviewed October 2026; the city and county have the final word on Huntington rules.
Pre-offer checklist
Ask the seller for twelve months of utility bills and any lease on the Huntington property, confirm who pays water, trash and lawn care, and get the insurance quote before the inspection period ends so the ratio is tested on real numbers.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Which rent counts when I finance a Huntington property?
It comes from a lease or from the market rent in the appraisal, whichever the program uses. Against that, the Huntington median is $912.
How is the DSCR figure built for a Huntington property?
They do. Rent of $912 divided by 1.25 gives about $730 as the payment ceiling, and $76 of that is spoken for by the median Huntington tax bill.
How much real estate tax do Huntington homeowners pay a year?
Huntington owners report a median $909 in annual real estate taxes, an effective 0.71% (West Virginia: 0.53%). Your own bill depends on the assessed value after purchase.
Is short-term rental income allowed for a Huntington DSCR loan?
Depending on the lender, yes, if the property may legally be used that way and income is documented. Confirm the local permit, association rules and West Virginia lodging taxes before you underwrite nightly income in Huntington.
When must a Huntington landlord return a deposit?
Start with W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2, 37-6A-3, 37-6A-5. Return window: 60 days. Talk to a West Virginia attorney for a lease form that matches.
Is flood or storm risk a concern for a Huntington rental?
At the county level FEMA calls overall risk relatively moderate. Insurance, not the index, shows up in the ratio, so price a policy for the Huntington address.
Is an entity required for a WV DSCR loan?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Huntington purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.