Investing in Highlands County
Highlands County covers 2 rental markets we actively finance in Florida — Lake Placid, Sebring. Across those markets the median investment basis averages $221,500, a long-term lease averages $1,538/month, and the average all-in PITIA on a DSCR loan at the minimum down payment is $1,577. That produces a county-wide average DSCR ratio near 0.98x.
Basis varies more inside Highlands County than the average suggests. Lake Placid is the lowest entry point at roughly $218,000, while Lake Placid currently models the strongest coverage ratio in the county at 1.13x. When two towns in the same county ratio differently, it is almost always the rent-to-price relationship rather than the rate — the same loan pricing applies county-wide, so the deal is won on which submarket you buy in.