
Investor-friendly real estate agents in Jonesboro, AR
We match investors with vetted Jonesboro-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in JonesboroVetted investor agents across the Jonesboro metro
Jonesboro has the best rent-to-price of our Arkansas markets. Typical home values in the metro are about $204,000 and typical rent about $1,240, roughly 0.61% a month. That's still under the 1% rule and won't cash flow at the median price with a mortgage at today's rates, but a rental bought below median can. It's also growing: the metro is up about 15% since 2010 to roughly 139,000 people, and jobs are up about 7% since 2019. It's a small market, home to Arkansas State University and the regional center for Northeast Arkansas, about an hour from Memphis. Arkansas law is landlord-friendly, and the city requires a privilege license for short-term rentals. Our vetted agent partner has worked full time in Jonesboro since 2017, covers about 100 miles around it, and owns rental units himself.
Investor purchases in Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas from a full-time agent who owns and runs rental units himself.


Is Jonesboro worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Jonesboro metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 121,234 |
| 2011 | 122,731 |
| 2012 | 124,072 |
| 2013 | 125,519 |
| 2014 | 126,404 |
| 2015 | 127,954 |
| 2016 | 129,366 |
| 2017 | 130,583 |
| 2018 | 132,071 |
| 2019 | 133,289 |
| 2020 | 134,577 |
| 2021 | 134,378 |
| 2022 | 135,232 |
| 2023 | 136,618 |
| 2024 | 138,696 |
| 2025 | 139,440 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +925 |
| 2012 | +723 |
| 2013 | +894 |
| 2014 | +313 |
| 2015 | +885 |
| 2016 | +616 |
| 2017 | +751 |
| 2018 | +920 |
| 2019 | +787 |
| 2020 | +830 |
| 2021 | -398 |
| 2022 | +572 |
| 2023 | +1,033 |
| 2024 | +1,310 |
| 2025 | +182 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 48,900 |
| 2011 | 50,200 |
| 2012 | 50,800 |
| 2013 | 51,800 |
| 2014 | 52,600 |
| 2015 | 54,200 |
| 2016 | 55,900 |
| 2017 | 57,500 |
| 2018 | 58,800 |
| 2019 | 60,300 |
| 2020 | 59,000 |
| 2021 | 61,400 |
| 2022 | 62,200 |
| 2023 | 62,800 |
| 2024 | 63,700 |
| 2025 | 64,400 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2016 | $830/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $837/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $862/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $890/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $925/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,003/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,044/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,101/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,151/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,187/mo |
| Sep 2026 | $1,237/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $113,407 |
| Dec 2011 | $115,263 |
| Dec 2012 | $116,349 |
| Dec 2013 | $118,795 |
| Dec 2014 | $121,328 |
| Dec 2015 | $124,100 |
| Dec 2016 | $128,305 |
| Dec 2017 | $132,689 |
| Dec 2018 | $137,365 |
| Dec 2019 | $144,398 |
| Dec 2020 | $155,745 |
| Dec 2021 | $177,118 |
| Dec 2022 | $188,794 |
| Dec 2023 | $194,272 |
| Dec 2024 | $194,682 |
| Dec 2025 | $198,399 |
| Sep 2026 | $203,787 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2016 | 12.9× |
| Dec 2017 | 13.2× |
| Dec 2018 | 13.3× |
| Dec 2019 | 13.5× |
| Dec 2020 | 14.0× |
| Dec 2021 | 14.7× |
| Dec 2022 | 15.1× |
| Dec 2023 | 14.7× |
| Dec 2024 | 14.1× |
| Dec 2025 | 13.9× |
| Sep 2026 | 13.7× |
Data retrieved October 16, 2026. Figures cover the Jonesboro metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Jonesboro
Zillow Home Value Index, Jonesboro metro, Sep 2026 (+4.4% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Sep 2026 (+2.8% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +4.4%, rents +2.8%.
Arkansas landlord-tenant basics
Arkansas is one of the most landlord-friendly states. The main rules are in the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 (Ark. Code Title 18, Chapter 17) and the deposit and eviction statutes in Chapter 16. The points investors ask about most:
- Security deposit: capped at two months' rent, and within 60 days after move-out you return it or send an itemized list of deductions. The deposit law generally applies only to landlords with six or more rental units.
- Minimum standards: since November 1, 2021 (Act 1052), leases entered into or renewed must provide hot and cold running water, electricity, potable drinking water, a sanitary sewer and working plumbing, a functioning roof and building envelope, and heat and air conditioning if the unit had them when leased. Use a move-in defect form; it helps document compliance.
- Eviction: the civil route is an unlawful detainer case, which starts with a three-day written notice to vacate. Arkansas also still has a criminal failure-to-vacate statute (Ark. Code § 18-16-101): a tenant who doesn't pay and stays past a 10-day written notice can be charged with a misdemeanor. Talk to an Arkansas attorney about which route fits.
- No local rent control: since 2025 (Act 459), cities and counties can't regulate rent, rental application fees or deposits.
- Squatters: since 2025 (Act 238), unlawful squatting is a crime, and police can act on a report from the owner or the owner's authorized representative.
Short-term rental rules in Jonesboro
We didn't find a citywide cap or a special permit hearing for short-term rentals in Jonesboro like Little Rock's or Hot Springs'. The city regulates them through a privilege license and its hotel-motel tax.
- Get a city privilege license before you operate. The city adopted its short-term residential rental requirements in 2018 (Ordinance 18:081).
- In 2019 (ORD-19:019) the city extended its hotel-motel tax to short-term rentals, including Airbnb-type listings, at 3% of gross receipts.
- The zoning code lists short-term residential rentals among uses in residential districts. Confirm the zone for the specific address with the city's planning office.
- Stays under 30 days also owe state and local sales tax plus Arkansas's 2% tourism tax on lodging.
- Residents have complained to the City Council about problem STRs, so check for rule changes before you buy. HOA covenants can ban STRs regardless.
Last reviewed October 16, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Jonesboro metro; Arkansas Attorney General — Landlord and tenant rights; Arkansas Act 1052 (2021) — Minimum standards for residential rentals; Arkansas SB 25 (2017, Act 159) — Failure to vacate (Ark. Code § 18-16-101); Arkansas Act 459 (2025) — Local rent, fee and deposit control prohibited; Arkansas Act 238 (2025) — Unlawful squatting; City of Jonesboro — ORD-19:019, hotel-motel tax on short-term rentals; City of Jonesboro — RES-19:037, short-term rental privilege license fees; Jonesboro Code, Chapter 117 (Zoning), Article IV — District regulations; Arkansas DFA — Gross receipts tax rules (2% tourism tax on lodging).
Before you make an offer on a rental property, you need more than a gut feeling. Here is the step-by-step framework serious investors use to stress-test a deal on paper first.
Buying a rental out of state comes down to one thing: the quality of your local agent. Here is the five-step process that keeps investors from getting burned.
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Questions investors ask about Jonesboro
Which areas does your Jonesboro agent cover?
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Our vetted agent partner has worked full time in Jonesboro since 2017 and covers about 100 miles around it in Arkansas. He owns rental units himself, so he looks at deals the way an investor does. Tell us your strategy, budget and target area and we'll match you.
Is Jonesboro a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
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Better than most. Typical rent-to-price in the Jonesboro metro is about 0.61% a month, the best of our Arkansas markets, though still under the 1% rule. A rental bought below median can cash flow. It's a small market, so underwrite on street-level rent comps, not metro averages.
Can I run an Airbnb in Jonesboro?
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Yes, with a city privilege license, and you'll owe the city's 3% hotel-motel tax plus state sales and tourism taxes. We didn't find an STR cap like Little Rock's or Hot Springs', but the city has heard complaints about problem rentals, so check for rule changes and HOA restrictions before you buy.
Is Arkansas landlord-friendly?
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Very. Deposits are capped at two months' rent for larger landlords, cities can't impose rent control, and evictions can move quickly. Since 2021, leases must meet basic minimum standards such as water, electricity, sewer, a sound roof and working heat and air if provided.
Can I invest in Jonesboro if I live out of state?
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Yes, but in a small market local knowledge matters more. Pick an agent who walks properties for you, attends inspections, and connects you with contractors and a property manager.
What does it cost to get matched with a Jonesboro agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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