Johnson City Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Johnson City, TN
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Johnson City? We purchase multifamily properties around Downtown Johnson City, Boones Creek, and the rest of Washington County, and we review every deal against a clear buy box.
- 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
Areas We Target: Downtown Johnson City · Boones Creek · Elizabethton · Jonesborough — Washington County, TN
Market Snapshot
Renter Demand In Johnson City
Johnson City, mostly in Washington County with parts in Carter and Sullivan counties, had 72,222 residents in ACS 2020-2024. Renters occupy 48.7% of Johnson City homes, against 35.5% across Washington County. Median household income in Johnson City is $57,254, below Tennessee's $69,595.
For owners who plan to sell commercial property in Johnson City, TN, the 2025 combined tax rate is $3.0885 per $100 of assessed value on the Washington County side. ETSU, Johnson City Medical Center and the Quillen VA anchor rental demand.
East Tennessee State University
ETSU enrolled 14,388 students in fall 2025, per ETSU at a Glance 2026.Johnson City Medical Center
Ballad Health's Johnson City Medical Center is a 445-bed tertiary referral and Level 1 trauma center.Quillen VA Medical Center
The Quillen VA Medical Center at Mountain Home has 114 hospital beds, per VA.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Johnson City
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.
Local Market Data
Johnson City Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Johnson City
Renters occupy 48.7% of Johnson City homes, or 14,931 of 30,662 occupied units, in ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. Buildings with five or more units hold 8,608 Johnson City homes, or 25.8% of the housing stock. In ACS 2020-2024, 46.3% of Johnson City homes were built before 1980, against 40.8% statewide.
Johnson City rents and affordability
Median gross rent in Johnson City is $1,023 a month in ACS 2020-2024. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent for the Johnson City, TN MSA is $1,211, which is $188 higher.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $942 |
| One bedroom | $948 |
| Two bedrooms | $1,211 |
| Three bedrooms | $1,461 |
| Four bedrooms | $1,609 |
In ACS 2020-2024, 46.7% of Johnson City renter households spent 30% or more of income on rent. Anyone selling commercial property in Johnson City can cite a 4.7% rental vacancy rate.
Property taxes in Washington County
The 2025 combined rate in the Washington County part of Johnson City is $3.0885 per $100 of assessed value, per the Tennessee Comptroller.
Tennessee classifies dwellings with two or more rental units as commercial property, assessed at 40% of appraised value. A $2,000,000 Johnson City building is assessed at $800,000. The yearly bill in Washington County is $24,708.
When owners sell commercial property in Johnson City, TN, the state realty transfer tax is $0.37 per $100 of price. On a $2,000,000 sale, that is $7,400.
Landlord rules in Johnson City
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies in Washington County. Section 66-28-102 covers counties above 75,000 people in the 2010 census, and Washington County had 122,979 residents.
Under section 66-28-505, a tenant has 14 days after notice to cure unpaid rent. Section 66-28-301 requires deposits to sit in an account used only for that purpose.
Section 66-35-102 bars Tennessee local governments from controlling rent on private residential or commercial property. For owners who sell commercial real estate in Johnson City, TN, no local rent cap limits the income a buyer underwrites.
What it means for an owner
Johnson City pairs a 48.7% renter share with a $1,023 median rent and a $3.0885 combined tax rate in Washington County.
To sell commercial property in Johnson City, TN, run net income through the cap rate calculator. If you want to sell your apartment building in Johnson City, Skyline Capital Investments buys buildings with five or more units.
Seller Notes
Johnson City Seller Checklist
More about selling in Tennessee →Investing in Johnson City? See apartment syndications in Johnson City →
- Johnson City's 25.8% share of homes in 5+ unit buildings tops Tennessee's 14.1%.
- A $2,000,000 deal to sell commercial real estate in Johnson City, TN carries $7,400 transfer tax.
- Johnson City's Sullivan County part pays $2.9914 per $100 in 2025, versus $3.0885 in Washington.
Seller Guides
Johnson City Seller Situations
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Johnson City Property
The Tennessee rules that shape any deal in Johnson City: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Johnson City Seller FAQ
What taxes apply when I sell commercial property in Johnson City, TN?
Tennessee's realty transfer tax is $0.37 per $100 of price, or $7,400 on a $2,000,000 sale. Annual property tax uses the 2025 combined rate of $3.0885 per $100 assessed in Washington County and $2.9914 in Sullivan County.
Is renter demand strong enough to sell commercial real estate in Johnson City, TN?
Renters occupy 48.7% of Johnson City homes in ACS 2020-2024, against 35.5% across Washington County. Median gross rent is $1,023, and HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent for the Johnson City, TN MSA is $1,211.
How much property tax does a $2 million Johnson City apartment building pay?
Tennessee assesses dwellings with two or more rental units at 40% of appraised value, so a $2,000,000 Johnson City building is assessed at $800,000. The 2025 bill is $24,708 in Washington County and $23,931.20 in Sullivan County.
Can Johnson City limit the rent I charge?
No. Tennessee Code 66-35-102 bars local governments from controlling rent on private residential or commercial property. Washington County's 122,979 residents in 2010 bring it under the landlord and tenant act, which gives tenants 14 days to cure unpaid rent.
Who buys apartment buildings in Johnson City?
Skyline Capital Investments buys apartment buildings with five or more units, a direct option for owners who want to sell multifamily property in Johnson City. In ACS 2020-2024, 25.8% of Johnson City homes sat in such buildings.
Will you buy a Johnson City property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We regularly evaluate value-add, mismanaged, and distressed multifamily properties and underwrite them as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Can I sell my Johnson City apartment building off-market?
Yes. We work directly with owners and through listing agents. Off-market conversations are confidential, and we coordinate tours so tenants and staff are not disrupted.
Can I sell rental property in Johnson City with tenants in place?
Yes. We buy apartment buildings with tenants in place and keep existing leases intact. As a commercial real estate buyer focused on 5+ unit properties, we underwrite the current rent roll as it stands.
What do I need to sell my apartment building in Johnson City?
An address and unit count are enough to start. A current rent roll and trailing twelve-month statement let us move to a written offer faster.
Submit A Deal
Get An Offer Review In Johnson City
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
