Property Investability Score
The framework from The Condo Trap. Rate any property across 7 risk dimensions. Know before you buy.
How It Works
Choose a city preset below to auto-fill typical values, or start from scratch.
Move each slider left (more risky) or right (less risky). Don't overthink it — your gut is usually close.
The panel on the right updates instantly. Scroll down to the True Cost Calculator for dollar estimates.
Quick Start — Choose a City
These presets load typical risk ratings for each city based on data from The Condo Trap. Adjust any slider after loading.
Property Details (optional)
Score Each Dimension
Rate each factor from 1 (highest risk) to 10 (lowest risk). Not sure? Click Scoring guide under any slider for help.
Energy Mandate Exposure
Is the city or state enacting building performance standards?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: City has active BPS with escalating fines and near-term deadlines (Energize Denver, Local Law 97, BERDO)
- 3-4: State or city has enacted BPS but deadlines are 3+ years out, or benchmarking-only requirements
- 5-6: BPS proposed or under discussion; neighboring cities have enacted them
- 7-8: No current BPS; state has no enabling legislation
- 9-10: No mandates enacted, proposed, or likely based on political environment
Insurance Cost Trajectory
What is the market trend for property insurance in this area?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: Premiums up 100%+ in 3 years; carriers leaving market (coastal FL, LA, parts of CA)
- 3-4: Premiums up 40-100%; post-Surfside structural inspection mandates increasing master policy costs
- 5-6: Premiums rising 15-40% but multiple carriers still competing
- 7-8: Modest increases (under 15%); no major natural disaster risk adjustments
- 9-10: Stable or declining premiums; strong competition; low catastrophe risk zone
Tax Burden Trajectory
Unfunded pensions, metro districts, reassessment trends?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: Metro district layered on top of county tax; unfunded pension ratio above 50%; recent reassessment spike
- 3-4: Property taxes rising faster than inflation; pension underfunding above 30%; special taxing districts
- 5-6: Taxes rising roughly at inflation; some pension pressure; no special districts
- 7-8: Low effective tax rate; pensions well-funded (above 80%); homestead exemptions available
- 9-10: No state income tax, low property tax, fully funded pensions, TABOR-style limits enforced
Environmental Risk
Radon, water quality, wildfire, flood, and air quality exposure?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: FEMA flood zone + wildfire risk + known PFAS contamination + radon zone 1
- 3-4: Two or more risk factors present (e.g. radon zone + water quality issues); wildfire smoke days increasing
- 5-6: One moderate risk factor; EWG tap water shows some contaminants above guidelines
- 7-8: Minimal risk factors; clean water; no flood/fire zones; good air quality
- 9-10: No FEMA flood zone, no wildfire risk, clean water, low radon, excellent AQI history
HOA / Association Health
Reserve fund percentage, assessment history, governance quality?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: Reserve fund below 30%; special assessment in last 2 years exceeding $10K/unit; deferred maintenance backlog
- 3-4: Reserve fund 30-50%; HOA fees rising 10%+/year; structural inspection required but not completed
- 5-6: Reserve fund 50-70%; no recent assessments; fees rising at inflation
- 7-8: Reserve fund above 70%; professional management; recent reserve study completed
- 9-10: Single-family home with no HOA, or condo with reserve fund above 90% and no deferred maintenance
Local Regulatory Direction
New mandates, inspection requirements, rent control, zoning changes?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: Multiple new mandates (structural inspections + BPS + rent control); city council actively expanding regulations
- 3-4: New building codes or inspection mandates enacted in last 2 years; regulatory trend is toward more intervention
- 5-6: Some regulatory activity but stable; mixed political signals
- 7-8: No new mandates in recent years; regulatory environment stable or deregulating
- 9-10: State preemption of local mandates; strong property rights protections; no rent control
Market Supply / Demand
Price-to-rent ratio, inventory levels, appreciation history, demand trends?
Scoring guide
- 1-2: Price-to-rent ratio above 25x; rising inventory; flat or declining prices; population outflow
- 3-4: Price-to-rent 20-25x; supply building; appreciation below inflation
- 5-6: Price-to-rent 15-20x; balanced market; appreciation roughly at inflation
- 7-8: Price-to-rent 10-15x; limited supply; appreciation above inflation; net population inflow
- 9-10: Price-to-rent below 10x; severe supply shortage; strong job growth and population inflow
Adjust the sliders to evaluate your property.
Breakdown
Biggest Risk
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The full scoring methodology, city-by-city benchmarks, and exit strategies are in The Condo Trap.
Get the Book (opens in new tab)How to Read Your Score
Carrying costs will likely erode all appreciation. Consider renting instead.
Significant headwinds. Proceed only with deep due diligence and a clear exit plan.
Some favorable factors, but watch the weak dimensions carefully.
Favorable conditions across most dimensions. Standard due diligence applies.
For educational purposes only. Not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor and perform your own due diligence before making any real estate decision.
True Cost & Property Discount Model
Everyone focuses on the mortgage payment. This calculator shows the other costs — the ones that never build equity. Enter your numbers, or use a city preset to start.
Purchase Details
Monthly Carrying Costs from HOA docs, tax records, and disclosures
Rent vs. Buy Comparison
10-Year Projection
The Condo Trap provides the complete methodology, city-by-city benchmarks, and exit strategies for every outcome.
Get the Book (opens in new tab)Get the Full Framework
The Condo Trap contains the complete PIS methodology with city-by-city data, benchmark scores, and exit strategies for every outcome.
Disclaimer & Terms of Use
No Professional Advice. The Property Investability Score Calculator, True Cost & Property Discount Model, and all related content on this page (collectively, the "Tools") are provided for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, investment, legal, tax, accounting, or real estate advice, nor is it intended as a substitute for professional consultation.
Consult Qualified Professionals. Before making any decision to purchase, sell, hold, rent, or invest in real property, you should consult with a licensed financial advisor, certified public accountant, real estate attorney, licensed real estate broker, or other qualified professional who can evaluate your specific financial situation, objectives, and risk tolerance.
No Guarantee of Accuracy. The scores, projections, estimates, and calculations generated by these Tools are based on user-provided inputs, simplified assumptions, and generalized data. They do not reflect all factors that may affect the value, cost, or suitability of a particular property. Default values and city presets are approximations based on publicly available data at the time of publication and may not reflect current market conditions. Actual costs, returns, and outcomes will vary.
No Guarantee of Results. Past performance, historical data, and trend analysis referenced in these Tools or in The Condo Trap do not guarantee future results. Real estate markets, tax policy, insurance markets, regulatory environments, and economic conditions are subject to change without notice.
Limitation of Liability. J.A. Watte, the publisher, and the operators of this website expressly disclaim any and all liability for damages of any kind arising out of the use of, reference to, or reliance on these Tools or any information contained on this page. In no event shall the authors, publishers, or website operators be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages resulting from your use of these Tools.
Not a Solicitation. Nothing on this page constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security, real property, or financial product. References to specific cities, properties, or market conditions are for illustrative purposes only.
Your Responsibility. You are solely responsible for conducting your own independent due diligence, verifying all data, and making your own informed decisions. By using these Tools, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer and agree that your use is at your own risk.