The Star Score is a 0-100 index of how well a US metro suits the equity-snowball strategy: buy under market, force appreciation, refinance, repeat. It weights gross rental yield 35%, entry affordability against a fixed $100K reference budget 15% — a stable benchmark so scores stay comparable across markets and over time (personalize with your own cash and credit on any market page), landlord-friendliness 15%, equity growth 15%, property-tax drag 10%, and climate/insurance risk 10%.
Home values are Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) metro figures and rents are Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) metro figures, September 2026. Supporting context: US Census ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents, state landlord-tenant statutes, Tax Foundation effective property-tax tables. Landlord-friendliness, growth, and climate factors are editorial scores on public data, reviewed October 2026.
Metro averages start the conversation; the block and the deal finish it. The Star Score is research and education, not investment advice, an appraisal, or a substitute for local underwriting.