Franklin County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Franklin County, OH
Franklin County is anchored by Columbus, the state capital, and includes suburbs such as Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, and Hilliard. Ohio State University, state government, insurance, and logistics employers support a broad rental market ranging from campus-area walk-ups to suburban garden communities.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Cities We Cover: Columbus · Gahanna · Grove City · Hilliard · Pickerington · Reynoldsburg — County seat: Columbus
Franklin County
Where We Buy In Franklin County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Franklin County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Franklin County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Owners who plan to sell commercial property in Franklin County, OH should start with the renter base. Franklin County held 260,976 renter households in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a 47.2% share of the county's 553,099 occupied homes. Columbus anchors that demand, and population across Franklin County grew 3.3% to 1,333,048 residents since the 2015-2019 survey, adding 42,688 people.
Apartment supply has kept pace. Franklin County counts 156,255 housing units in buildings of five or more units, 26.2% of the stock, up 14.1% from the prior survey period. Median gross rent reached $1,302, a 33.7% increase, while rental vacancy sits at 3.8%. Rents, vacancy and renter demand vary sharply by city within Franklin County, which matters for pricing a multifamily sale.
A 1.33 million-resident county
Franklin County grew 3.3% to 1,333,048 residents between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Census surveys, adding 42,688 people.Renter households up 9.5%
Renter households in Franklin County rose 9.5%, from 238,402 to 260,976, adding 22,574 households over the five-year comparison.Apartment stock expanding 14.1%
Units in buildings of five or more apartments in Franklin County grew 14.1% to 156,255, an increase of 19,282 units since 2015-2019.Who rents in Franklin County
Renters head 260,976 of Franklin County's 553,099 occupied households, a 47.2% share in the 2020-2024 ACS, while owners hold the remaining 292,123 households. Statewide, renters account for only 32.8% of Ohio households, so Franklin County's renter share runs well above the Ohio average.
Columbus drives much of that renter demand, with the county's largest concentration of 5+ unit apartment buildings. Suburbs such as Upper Arlington and Dublin lean toward ownership, with renter shares near one in five, while Reynoldsburg and Gahanna hold mid-range renter populations. That spread across Franklin County shapes where multifamily buyers concentrate their search.
Rents, growth and affordability
Median gross rent in Franklin County climbed 33.7%, from $974 to $1,302, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 American Community Survey periods, a $328 increase. Household income rose 22.6% over the same span, to $75,176, so rent growth outran income gains across Franklin County.
Renter households grew 9.5%, adding 22,574 households, while units in 5+ unit buildings grew 14.1%, adding 19,282 units. That supply growth helps explain a 3.8% rental vacancy rate, tighter than Ohio's 4.4% statewide figure. In the 2020-2024 ACS, 46.3% of Franklin County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Columbus metro area is $1,602, effective October 1, 2026, $300 above the county's current median.
Franklin County's median gross rent of $1,302 also runs $268 above Ohio's statewide median of $1,034, reflecting the pull of Columbus-area jobs and new apartment construction. Buyers weighing a Franklin County multifamily purchase typically compare that premium against the county's tighter 3.8% vacancy and its 14.1% growth in 5+ unit stock.
City-by-city comparison
Rents, renter share and vacancy shift noticeably across Franklin County's covered cities, per each city's 2020-2024 ACS figures.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $1,295 | 55.9% | 32.0% | 3.6% |
| Reynoldsburg | $1,259 | 38.4% | 20.6% | 2.8% |
| Gahanna | $1,466 | 29.4% | 14.6% | 4.3% |
| Grove City | $1,331 | 28.6% | 14.8% | 8.5% |
| Westerville | $1,364 | 27.5% | 16.8% | 4.3% |
| Hilliard | $1,632 | 31.3% | 18.3% | 7.2% |
| Dublin | $1,686 | 22.9% | 14.3% | 5.1% |
| Upper Arlington | $1,588 | 20.6% | 8.9% | 5.9% |
| Pickerington | $1,605 | 23.2% | 14.0% | 15.6% |
Property taxes and assessment in Franklin County
Ohio Rev. Code 5713.03 directs the county auditor to determine the true market value of real property in Franklin County. State rules then set the assessed, taxable value at 35% of that true value for every class of real property, including apartment buildings, under Ohio Rev. Code 5715.01 and Ohio Admin. Code 5703-25-07.
Sellers in Franklin County should pull the auditor's current valuation before pricing a multifamily asset, since the 35% assessment ratio applies uniformly but the underlying market-value estimate can lag a recent sale or renovation. A county conveyance fee also applies at closing under Ohio's transfer-fee statutes, with a mandatory state portion plus a county permissive add-on that varies by jurisdiction.
Franklin County's median year-built figure of 1979 points to an aging multifamily stock in parts of the county, which can affect both assessed value and the capital expenditures a buyer underwrites at closing.
What this means if you sell in Franklin County
Anyone ready to sell commercial property in Franklin County, OH is working from a renter base of 260,976 households, 47.2% of all occupied homes, with rents up 33.7% since the 2015-2019 survey. Vacancy at 3.8% signals steady lease-up, while rent burden near 46.3% suggests room for further increases before affordability limits demand.
Pricing should also account for city-level variation. Columbus carries the deepest renter pool, while suburbs like Dublin and Pickerington post higher per-unit rents but smaller renter shares. A buyer evaluating a Franklin County apartment building will weigh these local figures against the county's 35% assessment ratio and its own trailing occupancy and rent roll.
Sellers who prepare current rent rolls, lease terms and a recent auditor valuation ahead of a listing generally move faster through due diligence. Franklin County's mix of a dense urban renter base in Columbus and higher-rent suburban cities like Dublin and Pickerington gives sellers more than one way to position a sale.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In Ohio
What we factor into every Franklin County offer:
More about Ohio →- Confirm the auditor-assessed value; Ohio taxes apartment buildings at 35% of true market value.
- Factor Ohio's 30-day security deposit return window into closing adjustments and credits.
- Review month-to-month leases for the 30-day notice Ohio law requires before termination.
- Compare trailing occupancy against Franklin County's 3.8% rental vacancy rate from the latest ACS.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Franklin County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Franklin County pay a median of $4,244 a year in property tax on a median home value of $288,400, an effective rate of about 1.47%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is above the Ohio statewide average of 1.36%.
How property tax works in Ohio: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Franklin County building, check how Ohio reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Franklin County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Selling In Franklin County? Common Situations We Handle
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Franklin County Property
The Ohio rules that shape any deal in Franklin County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Franklin County
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Franklin County Seller FAQ
How much have rents risen in Franklin County, OH?
Median gross rent in Franklin County climbed 33.7%, from $974 to $1,302, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 American Community Survey periods. That outpaced the 22.6% rise in median household income over the same span, per the Census Bureau.
What is the rental vacancy rate in Franklin County?
Franklin County's rental vacancy rate was 3.8% in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, tighter than Ohio's 4.4% statewide rate. Pickerington's vacancy ran far higher at 15.6%, while Reynoldsburg held near 2.8%, showing wide variation by city within the county.
How are apartment buildings taxed in Franklin County, OH?
Ohio Rev. Code 5713.03 directs the county auditor to set true market value, and state rules tax all real property, including apartment buildings, at 35% of that value. Owners should confirm their property's current auditor valuation before pricing a sale.
What should I know before I sell commercial property in Franklin County, OH?
Franklin County held 260,976 renter households, 47.2% of occupied homes, in the 2020-2024 ACS. Median gross rent reached $1,302, and the county's 156,255 units in 5+ unit buildings grew 14.1% since 2015-2019, signaling steady multifamily demand for sellers to weigh.
How do I sell commercial property in Franklin County, OH?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Franklin County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Franklin County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Franklin County, including Columbus, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, and Dublin, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Franklin County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Is it possible to sell rental property in Franklin County without evicting tenants?
It is. We buy apartment buildings occupied, and tenants stay on their current leases. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit buildings, so occupied properties are the norm for us.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Franklin County?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
How do property taxes factor into a Franklin County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Columbus), within Ohio rules. Ohio assesses property at 35% of appraised value, with reappraisals every six years and updates every three. A recent sale price can also be used by the county to set value, so we underwrite post-sale taxes.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Franklin County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
