1st Advantage MortgageWarren is a OH market where the rent-to-payment ratio decides the loan. Median rent is $766, median home value is $86,400 and 44% of households rent.
Warren by the Census numbers
A DSCR lender in Warren is comparing a rent against a payment, and the citywide benchmarks are a median gross rent of $766 and a median home value of $86,400. The rent figure is well below the Ohio median of $1,034. The gross rent-to-value ratio for Warren works out to 10.6% (twelve months of median rent divided by median value), on the high side, which usually points to lower purchase prices relative to rent. The figure combines all rental types with all owner-occupied homes, so it is a screening number and not an appraisal.
| Indicator | Ohio | Warren | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.37 | 2.16 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 7.9% | 9.5% | +20% |
| Share of homes detached | 68.8% | 71.5% | +4% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 10.8% | 10.5% | -3% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 31.5% | 15.6% | -50% |
| Workers on their own account | 8.1% | 6.2% | -24% |
| Units sitting vacant | 8.1% | 11.3% | +39% |
| Typical construction year | 1970 | 1955 | |
| Households that rent | 32.8% | 43.9% | +34% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 1.31% | 1.43% | +9% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,822 | $1,236 | -56% |
| Household income, median | $71,389 | $37,887 | -47% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $214,800 | $86,400 | -60% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,034 | $766 | -26% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 11,810,293 | 38,912 |
Renters make up 43.9% of households in Warren (well above the Ohio median of 33%), so rental demand is real but not overwhelming. Median household income is $37,887, well below the Ohio median of $71,389, and 58% of renter households pay 30 percent or more of income on rent.
The kind of housing in Warren
With 71% of units detached, Warren is a single-family market first. Investors mostly buy houses, and the rent evidence comes from similar houses nearby. Median year built is 1955. Older buildings tend to need more capital work, and insurers notice roof and electrical age.
The Census counts 11% of Warren housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 7.9%.
How investors should read Warren
A 10.6% ratio in Warren gives buyers cushion to absorb insurance and association costs, though higher-yield areas sometimes come with higher turnover. An older stock (built 1955 at the median) means the inspection report can change your numbers more than the rent does. With about 44% of households renting, Warren has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.
The payment side of the Warren ratio
Homeowners in Warren paid a median $1,236 in real estate taxes, well below the Ohio median of $2,822, an effective rate near 1.43% of home value against 1.31% statewide. Measured against a year of median rent, taxes eat about 13% before any other cost shows up.
Insurance follows risk. FEMA's National Risk Index lists Trumbull County as relatively moderate overall, with strong wind (relatively high), tornadoes (relatively high) and winter weather (relatively high) as the main drivers.
| Hazard in Trumbull County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Lightning exposure | Relatively High |
| Winter weather exposure | Relatively High |
| Tornadoes exposure | Relatively High |
| Strong wind exposure | Relatively High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively High |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
Many investors meet insurance too late, so get a quote tied to the Warren property's roof age and flood zone before you waive your inspection period.
Rent math for Warren buyers
At the city medians a DSCR file in Warren has $663 a month after taxes to cover principal, interest, insurance and dues if the ratio is 1.00, or $510 if the ratio is 1.25. Those two numbers show why insurance quotes and tax estimates come first.
Rental rules for Warren, OH
For Warren, treat local rental rules as an open question to close before you offer. Ask the city and Trumbull County about landlord registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and check association documents too. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Warren. Ohio's lodging tax covers transient guests who rent for fewer than 30 consecutive days, including Airbnb and VRBO style rentals, and counties may levy an additional lodging tax that operators register for and file under that county's rules.
Before you set the Warren rent, know that Ohio caps the security deposit this way: No statutory cap (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16). Landlord entry in Ohio: 24 hours' notice and reasonable times, except emergencies. On rent control, No.
How Warren stacks up against its neighbors
Of the cities listed, Kent is the most expensive ($219,900 median value) and Youngstown the least ($63,300); Warren sits at $86,400.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | 51% | $1,227 | $97,800 | 69,755 | $850 |
| Akron | 49% | $1,950 | $122,000 | 189,247 | $955 |
| Kent | 59% | $3,463 | $219,900 | 27,116 | $991 |
| Youngstown | 44% | $811 | $63,300 | 59,331 | $728 |
| Warren | 44% | $1,236 | $86,400 | 38,912 | $766 |
The renter base in Warren
About 6.2% of Warren workers are self-employed, the kind of borrowers whose tax returns understate cash flow and who often prefer a loan sized on rent. On the workforce side, government workers are about 11% of employment, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
From a Warren listing to a loan
Ready to test a Warren deal? Use the calculator for the ratio, then start your application or send us the scenario.
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Sources and data notes
- State rule cited for Warren hosts: Ohio Administrative Code 5703-9-64
- American Community Survey tables, Ohio
- FEMA hazard ratings for Trumbull County
- Wikipedia article, Warren, Ohio
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16, the Ohio deposit law
- For nightly stays in Warren: Ohio Revised Code 5739.09
Numbers for Warren come from the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 ACS and are survey estimates. The Ohio legal summaries are from the RedFlagLease dataset, licensed CC BY 4.0, with statute links. Checked October 2026; confirm with Warren or the county before you rely on any rule.
Pre-offer checklist
For a Warren rental, request the current lease, the last tax bill and the insurance declarations page early, and confirm which utilities the tenant pays, because each one changes the monthly figure a lender compares with the rent.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
How does a lender pick the rent for a Warren DSCR file?
On most files the lender uses the lower of the signed lease rent and the appraiser's market rent for the address in Warren. For orientation, the Census median gross rent here is $766 a month.
How is the DSCR figure built for a Warren property?
The denominator is the whole housing payment. Using Warren's median rent of $766, a ratio of 1.25 allows $613, and a ratio of 1.00 allows all $766.
Are Warren property taxes high for Ohio?
Warren owners report a median $1,236 in annual real estate taxes, an effective 1.43% (Ohio: 1.31%). Your own bill depends on the assessed value after purchase.
Do DSCR lenders count short-term rental income in Warren?
Where lender guidelines allow it, yes, with platform history or a market projection. First confirm that Warren and any HOA permit stays under 30 days, and that you can register for Ohio lodging tax.
When must a Warren landlord return a deposit?
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16: No statutory cap. The deposit is due back within 30 days of move-out. Check the statute and your lease before collecting.
Does hazard risk affect a Warren DSCR loan?
The National Risk Index gives the county an overall relatively moderate rating. Use that as a prompt to get quotes, not as a verdict on one Warren street.
Do I need an LLC to buy a rental in Warren?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Warren purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.