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The red Monopoly properties, along with the orange properties, are my number one target in any Monopoly game. They just offer so much strategic value. Here’s the good news. I’m here to tell you everything about it.
This article discusses the red Monopoly properties and the best strategies to deal with them.
What are the Red Monopoly Properties?
The red properties are just after the second intersection on the Monopoly board. They sit just before the yellow properties. There are usually 3 red properties. The names of the properties differ depending on the edition you’re playing.
The price of getting the initial property space is fairly expensive. So, it’s worth taking a closer look before buying.
Red Monopoly Properties and Prices in the US, UK, and Canada Editions
There are so many versions of Monopoly. So, we’re going to stick to the 3 most popular classic editions. These are the US, UK, and Canada editions.
| US | UK | Canada |
| Kentucky Avenue | The Strand | Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| Indiana Avenue | Fleet Street | Gatineau, Quebec |
| Illinois Avenue | Trafalgar Square | Shawinigan, Quebec |
As you can see, the names are different in all three editions. To avoid confusion, we’ll use the UK names throughout this article.
Here’s a table that shows the prices for each property space.
| Monopoly Spaces | Property Prices |
| The Strand | $220 |
| Fleet Street | $220 |
| Trafalgar Square | $240 |
As you can see, the 3rd space is slightly higher than the other two spaces. However, the probability of landing in Trafalgar Square is a bit higher.
I personally think the 3rd space is higher simply because the rent is higher in that space.
Rent Prices of the Red Monopoly Properties
The rent prices will differ depending on how many spaces you own in the color set or how many houses you own.
Here’s a table showing rent prices if you own one or two properties in the color set.
| Monopoly Spaces | Rent Prices |
| The Strand | $18 |
| Fleet Street | $18 |
| Trafalgar Square | $20 |
The rent prices pretty much doubled when you owned all the properties in the color set. These are the rent prices if you own all three but without any houses or hotels.
| Monopoly Spaces | Rent Prices if You Own All Properties |
| The Strand | $36 |
| Fleet Street | $36 |
| Trafalgar Square | $40 |
Once you build houses on the properties, you’ve hit the big-time league.
| Improvements | The Strand | Fleet Street | Trafalgar Square |
| 1 House | $90 | $90 | $100 |
| 2 Houses | $250 | $250 | $300 |
| 3 Houses | $700 | $700 | $750 |
| 4 Houses | $875 | $875 | $925 |
| Hotel | $1050 | $1050 | $1100 |
As you can see, the slight increase in value also results in a $50 increase in rent from 2 houses. This is a great return on investment and adds to the uniqueness of this property.
Mortgage Value of the Red Monopoly Properties
Considering the mortgage value is vital. It will come in handy when you’re close to bankruptcy. That can happen no matter how good you are in the game. The first thing to note is that the red properties have a fairly high mortgage value.
The prices of the spaces largely dictate the mortgage value. Having said that, here’s a table that outlines each property’s mortgage value.
| Monopoly Spaces | Mortgage Value |
| The Strand | $110 |
| Fleet Street | $110 |
| Trafalgar Square | $120 |
As you can see, the mortgage value is half of the initial cost of buying the property.
Chances of Landing in the Red Monopoly Properties
There’s no use buying all the spaces if no one is going to land on them. So, I have compiled the odds of landing in each of the red Monopoly properties.
The odds are looking good indeed.
| Monopoly Spaces | Odds |
| The Strand | 2.61% |
| Fleet Street | 2.56% |
| Trafalgar Square | 3% |
The odds are on the higher side when compared to other color sets, like the yellow properties. It’s also noteworthy that Trafalgar Square has the highest odds of landing. This further makes the $20 rise on the property more enticing.
Cost of Building Houses in the Red Monopoly Properties
Now, the next step is to build your house. That costs money and has to be considered when buying color sets. Here are the costs of building houses on the red Monopoly properties.
| Monopoly Spaces | Cost of Building |
| The Strand | $150 |
| Fleet Street | $150 |
| Trafalgar Square | $150 |
The cost of building houses is the same throughout. It’s also the same with the yellow properties. So, on paper, the red properties seem less attractive to the yellow color set.
Return on Investment with Red Monopoly Properties
It all comes down to the return on investment in Monopoly. So, what do you get if you choose to invest in the red properties? Here are some intriguing statistics.
| Monopoly Spaces | ROI Without Houses | ROI Owning all Properties in the color set | ROI with Houses and Hotel |
| The Strand | 8.2% | 16.4% | 41%-477% |
| Fleet Street | 8.2% | 16.4% | 41%- 477% |
| Trafalgar Square | 8.3% | 16.6% | 41.6%-458.3% |
This is where things get interesting. Once you get this color set up to build houses or hotels, they represent one of the highest returns on investment on the board. This is even higher than the yellow properties on the block, which has a maximum ROI of 442%.
You also have to consider the building costs, which stand at $2250. This is the same with the yellow properties. So, it’s easily the best color set on the third row of properties on the Monopoly board.
Best Strategy To Use if You Buy the Red Monopoly Properties
So, you want to buy the red properties. What’s the plan? I have three strategies I use with the red properties depending on the phase of the game.
Early Game- Buy and Invest Early
One of the best ways to deal with the red properties is to come flying out of the blocks. This is usually possible when you somehow manage to get all three properties within the first 3-4 rounds or you exchange cards really early with your opponent.
If you do, it’s imperative you invest while you have the funds. Building a house in each space will cost you $450 (minus space costs). However, landing on any will get you at least 40% ROI. I recommend you build one house each and then build it up slowly.
This means you get to spend about $1000 in total, which should give you some cash to fund other properties. The downside is that you might not be able to as active as you’d like in auctions.
Middle Phase- Buy and Invest Slowly
This is my least recommended strategy. However, it’s worth it because of the odds and the ROI. You can buy and invest during the middle phase. However, it all depends on context. If there are a lot of properties rising up, you’re better off buying orange properties.
However, if everyone is still struggling with deals and countertrades, you can go for the jugular. This might yield profits. So, take your chances.
End Game- Use Other Properties As Investment
This is my favorite strategy for this color set. Slowly get all the spaces. This might take you all game. Focus on the smaller properties in the 2nd row on the board. Then, use the rent you accrue to develop this color set if there’s time.
However, this is assuming you have properties in the first two blocks. If you don’t, you have to develop the red properties as that’s your best chance of getting profits.
The Right Blend When You Invest in Red Monopoly Properties
One of the reasons I love the red properties is that it allows you to blend almost all the properties on the board. I have arranged them in order of perfect fit to worst fit. However, all combos can work. Some just work better than others.
Orange Properties
This is by far my number 1 recommendation. The orange and red properties are both at the intersection. Most times, your opponents will land on one of these spaces.
So, if you can get both properties, you’ve scored a huge advantage. Both sets of properties have great odds, and you’re set for success.
Pink Properties
The next great property combo is the pink properties at the first intersection. This is less ideal, and your opponents can easily skip over. However, intersections usually have great odds.
Plus, the pink properties are really easy to set up. That’s a huge bonus.
Light Blue Properties
This is further down the line and even less ideal. The only reason why it’s on this list is because it’s so cheap and annoying to your opponents. However, there’s no real trap, as the opponents can really jump through both sets of properties.
Yellow Properties
The yellow and red properties are an amazing combo. If you manage to get both built, you are guaranteed to win the game.
However, it’s just too costly and leads to bankruptcy. So, it’s definitely not my first choice.
Dark Green Properties
This is the least ideal for me. In this scenario, you’ll need to use the red properties to raise funds for the dark green properties. It’s just too costly and will leave you behind. Avoid this combo if you can.
Red Monopoly Properties in Monopoly Editions
The red Monopoly properties come in different shades depending on the Monopoly edition. I have compiled some editions and how these properties appear.
| Monopoly Editions | Monopoly Red Properties |
| Monopoly Here and Now- World Edition | Sydney- $2.2 Million New York- $2.2 Million London- $2.4 Million |
| Monopoly Mega Edition | Kentucky Avenue- $220 Indiana Avenue- $220 Illinois Avenue- $240 Michigan Avenue- $240 |
| Monopoly Little Pony Edition | Town Square- 220 Bits Fluttershy’s Cottage- 220 Bits Sweet Apples Acres- 240 Bits |
| Monopoly Doctor Who Edition | The Claws of Axos- $220 Survival- $220 The End of Time Part 1- $240 |
| Monopoly Space Edition | Rocky Mantle Lava Plain Impact Crater |
| Monopoly for Millennials | Karaoke Club- $30 Yoga Studio- $30 |
| Monopoly Millionnaire Edition | Style Square- $80,000 Party Plaza- $80,000 Showtime Boulevard- $80,000 |
| Monopoly City Edition | Seaview- 2.2 Million The Wharf- 2.2 Million Middleton- 2.4 Million |
| Monopoly Here and Now | Camelback MTN- $2.2 Million Waikiki Beach- $2.2 Million Disney World, Orlando- $2.4 Million |
| Monopoly Socialism | Speedy Li’l Socialist Post Office- $250 Open Minds Library- $250 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Monopoly Properties
Are Reds Good in Monopoly?
Red Monopoly properties are one of the best properties to get in Monopoly. They have great odds of landing and have a good return on investment.
What are the Property Colors in Monopoly?
The property colors are brown, light blue, pink, orange, red, yellow, dark green, and dark blue.
What is Statistically the Most Landed Property in Monopoly?
That award goes to Illinois or Trafalgar Square. This is in the red property color set.
