1st Advantage MortgagePueblo, CO DSCR loans work like they do elsewhere: the lender divides the property's rent by its full monthly payment. The local inputs are a median gross rent of $1,082, median real estate taxes of $1,246 and a renter share of 39%.
Pueblo rents, values and tenants
Start with the two numbers every DSCR file turns on. Rent in Pueblo runs a median $1,082 a month (well below the Colorado median of $1,761), and the median owner-occupied home is worth $247,200. Dividing a year of median rent by the median home value gives a gross rent-to-value ratio of 5.3%, on the low side, so the payment, not the rent, usually decides whether a file clears. It mixes apartments and houses, so treat it as a compass and not as the number for any one property.
| Indicator | Colorado | Pueblo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.42 | 2.29 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 4.7% | 6.3% | +33% |
| Share of homes detached | 61.4% | 72.4% | +18% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 45.7% | 23.7% | -48% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 52.9% | 52.8% | -0% |
| Units sitting vacant | 8.3% | 6.8% | -18% |
| Typical construction year | 1988 | 1965 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 3.9% | 5.3% | +34% |
| Households that rent | 33.8% | 38.6% | +14% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.48% | 0.50% | +4% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,602 | $1,246 | -52% |
| Household income, median | $95,470 | $56,664 | -41% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $539,400 | $247,200 | -54% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,761 | $1,082 | -39% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 5,862,189 | 111,561 |
38.6% of Pueblo households rent, about 14% above the Colorado median of 34%. That is a healthy base of tenants without the churn of a pure student or military town. The median household brings in $56,664 (well below the Colorado median of $95,470), with 53% of renters paying 30 percent or more of income toward rent.
Housing stock and vacancy in Pueblo
With 72% of units detached, Pueblo is a single-family market first. Investors mostly buy houses, and the rent evidence comes from similar houses nearby. With 1965 as the median build year, expect aging HVAC and roofs and ask for the dates of the last replacements.
Pueblo reports 7% of units vacant and a rental vacancy rate of 2.8%, a measure of how quickly a listed unit might lease.
Investor takeaways for Pueblo
Pueblo's 5.3% rent-to-value ratio is on the lean side, so expect lenders to ask for more cash down on a typical single-family purchase and to scrutinize insurance and tax estimates closely. Homes of this vintage age unevenly, so rent comparables should come from properties in similar condition. Renters are 39% of households, which gives investors a real tenant base to market to.
Carrying costs in Pueblo
Property taxes in Pueblo run a median $1,246 a year for owners, well below the Colorado median of $2,602. As a share of median value, that is about 0.50%. Measured against a year of median rent, taxes eat about 10% before any other cost shows up.
Insurance follows risk. FEMA's National Risk Index lists Pueblo County as relatively moderate overall, with lightning (very high), winter weather (very high) and hail (relatively high) as the main drivers.
| Hazard in Pueblo County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Cold waves exposure | Relatively High |
| Hail exposure | Relatively High |
| Winter weather exposure | Very High |
| Lightning exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Moderate |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
Many investors meet insurance too late, so get a quote tied to the Pueblo property's roof age and flood zone before you waive your inspection period.
Working the Pueblo rent math
Take the median rent ($1,082), subtract median taxes spread over twelve months ($104), and you have $978 of room at a 1.00 ratio. A lender asking for 1.25 cuts that to $762. Real quotes for the address decide the rest.
Rules a Pueblo landlord should check
Rental registration, inspection and nightly-stay rules differ by city, and we have not verified Pueblo's from a municipal source. A short call to the city and Pueblo County before you make an offer is cheap insurance. Nightly stays carry state tax in Colorado. Colorado requires a sales tax license for an owner who rents rooms or accommodations, with tax generally due on stays under 30 consecutive days, and a marketplace that collects for the owner typically covers state, local and lodging taxes, while county or city lodging filings can be separate.
A landlord collecting a deposit in Pueblo works under C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026), which sets the limit as follows: 2 months' rent (since Aug 7, 2023). After move-out, the Pueblo owner has 30 days to return the deposit or account for deductions. As to caps on rent in Pueblo: No; counties and municipalities are prohibited from enacting rent control (C.R.S. 38-12-301).
Pueblo against Colorado peers
Other Colorado markets on this site show median values from $389,800 (Grand Junction) to $532,400 (Westminster); Pueblo is $247,200.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction | 36% | $1,463 | $389,800 | 68,142 | $1,142 |
| Westminster | 38% | $2,614 | $532,400 | 115,484 | $1,882 |
| Aurora | 38% | $2,457 | $469,100 | 394,432 | $1,835 |
| Pueblo | 39% | $1,246 | $247,200 | 111,561 | $1,082 |
Workforce and demand drivers in Pueblo
Self-employment accounts for 7.9% of Pueblo's workforce, so many local investors earn income that a standard payroll-based mortgage underwrites poorly. Three more data points: government workers are about 19% of employment, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
For a sense of who employs Pueblo renters, the published employer list for 2023 shows UCHealth Parkview Medical Center, Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, Pueblo School District 60, Colorado State University Pueblo and Walmart *. Check the current year before you lean on it, since payrolls move. The Pueblo area is home to Colorado State University Pueblo, Pueblo Community College and Colorado Community College System. Students and employees at schools like these are a recurring source of rental demand. For getting around, Pueblo has interstate access via I-25 and air service through Pueblo Memorial Airport and Denver International Airport, which matters to commuters and to out-of-town owners planning a visit.
Next steps for a Pueblo purchase
Gather the lease or rent estimate, the tax estimate and an insurance quote for the Pueblo address, check them in the calculator, and begin your application or get a quote first.
More Colorado markets
- All Colorado DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Aurora, CO
- DSCR loans in Westminster, CO
- DSCR loans in Grand Junction, CO
- Every market we cover
Where these facts come from
- For nightly stays in Pueblo: Colorado Department of Revenue, rooms and accommodations
- Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020 to 2024 tables
- FEMA National Risk Index
- Background reading: Pueblo, Colorado
- C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026), the Colorado deposit law
Pueblo's figures are ACS estimates covering 2020 to 2024 and are not exact counts. The Colorado 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 Pueblo rules.
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 Pueblo property?
On most files the lender uses the lower of the signed lease rent and the appraiser's market rent for the address in Pueblo. For orientation, the Census median gross rent here is $1,082 a month.
How do taxes and insurance affect a DSCR loan in Pueblo?
Every piece of PITIA is in the denominator. With $1,082 in rent, a 1.25 lender allows about $866, leaving $762 after median taxes of $104 a month.
What does Pueblo County charge in property tax, in practice?
Median taxes paid are $1,246 a year, or 0.50% of median value, compared with 0.48% statewide. Ask Pueblo County's tax office what the bill becomes after your sale.
Can I use Airbnb income to qualify in Pueblo?
Often, with conditions: legal use under city and association rules, documented income and an insurance policy that covers guests. Pueblo owners should check all three first.
When must a Pueblo landlord return a deposit?
Colorado limits deposits this way: 2 months' rent (since Aug 7, 2023). Return is due within 30 days after the tenant leaves. The governing section is C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026).
What does FEMA say about hazard risk near Pueblo?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural hazard risk as relatively moderate. That is a county-level view, so check the FEMA flood map and an insurance quote for the exact Pueblo address.
Can a company be the borrower on a Pueblo purchase?
Not required. An LLC borrower is routine for investor programs, with entity paperwork and a guaranty. Form the company before you go under contract in Pueblo.