Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, enters the league with a $53.02 million rookie contract and a $35.02 million signing bonus.
Before the explosive Notre Dame running back takes a single handoff for the Arizona Cardinals, he faces a financial decision that will shape the next decade of his life:
Where should Jeremiyah Love live, and how should he structure his money and residency while he plays in Arizona?
For a position with the shortest average career in the NFL, the answer matters more than ever.
APSM breaks down and determines where the Cardinals rookie should establish his primary residence to maximize his net worth across his potential three-state residency landscape:
Does Jeremiyah Love
Own Any Property?
Love was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, starring at Christian Brothers College High School before becoming one of the most dynamic offensive weapons at Notre Dame.
There are no public records of Love owning real estate in Missouri, Indiana, or elsewhere.
What makes Love unique is that post the 2026 NFL Draft, at his first official media appearance, the rookie publicly stated he plans to invest his entire rookie contract and signing bonus into investments and assets, and that he would live off his NIL money he made at Notre Dame instead.
This is the smartest financial strategy a first‑round running back can take.
So, instead of analyzing existing properties, APSM evaluates the three markets available to Love, and suggests the optimal residency choice.
Market #1: Missouri
(Home State)
- Median Home Price: ~$260,000
- Property Tax Rate: ~0.9%
- State Income Tax: 4.95%
- Cost of Living: ~10% below U.S. average
- Market Trend: 3–5% annual appreciation
Pros
- Familiar environment
- Affordable housing
- Strong rental demand in St. Louis metro
Cons
- 4.95% income tax
- Higher tax burden than Indiana and Arizona
- Not ideal for a top‑3 pick with a $35M signing bonus
APSM Take
Missouri is a great place to buy property and is home to Love, but it is not a good residency choice for his time in the NFL.
If he kept Missouri residency, he could potentially owe:
- ~$1.73M in state taxes on his signing bonus
- Millions more lost to taxes across his rookie deal
Market #2: Indiana
(College State)
- Median Home Price: ~$230,000
- Property Tax Rate: ~0.81%
- State Income Tax: 3.05%
- Cost of Living: ~10% below U.S. average
- Market Trend: Slow, steady appreciation (2-4% annually)
Pros
- Extremely affordable housing
- Low cost of living
- Familiar environment
- Stable, predictable market
Cons
- 3.05% income tax
- Lower long‑term appreciation
- Limited luxury real estate options
APSM Take
Indiana is fine, but not ideal.
On a ~$35 million signing bonus:
- Indiana (3.05%) → ~$1.05M+ in state tax
- Arizona (2.5%) → ~$875K
Love saves ~$185K instantly by choosing to move to Arizona.
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The APSM “7 Ways Athletes Go Broke” Report Includes an inside look into
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These are real athlete case studies you can learn from to avoid the same fate as an
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Future-proof your own frameworks,
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If you want real financial literacy,
the kind that protects you, not just informs you…
This is the blueprint.
Market #3: Arizona
(Drafted State, Suggested Residency Choice)
- Median Home Price: ~$440,000
- Property Tax Rate: ~0.62%
- State Income Tax: 2.5%
- Cost of Living: ~5–10% above U.S. average
- Market Trend: Strong appreciation (6–10% annually)
Pros
- Lower income tax than Indiana and Missouri
- Strong luxury real estate market (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley)
- High appreciation potential
- Booming tech, media, and entertainment sectors
- Ideal for daily life as a Cardinal
- No tax on signing bonus if residency is established
Cons
- Higher cost of living
- Market volatility in Phoenix
- Must document residency carefully
APSM Take
Arizona is the APSM suggested best financial destination for Love.
The difference between 3.05% (Indiana) and 2.5% (Arizona) may seem small, but on a ~$35M signing bonus, it’s ~$185K saved, or 4x the average U.S. salary just in tax-savings.
Add in the booming housing market, Arizona becomes the clear winner.
Best Housing & Rental Markets
Missouri
- Best Housing Markets: St. Louis (Clayton), Kansas City (Lee’s Summit)
- Best Rental Markets: St. Louis metro, Kansas City metro
- Appreciation Rates: 3–5% annually
Indiana
- Best Housing Markets: Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville
- Best Rental Markets: Indianapolis metro, Bloomington
- Appreciation Rates: 2–4% annually
Arizona
- Best Housing Markets: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Gilbert
- Best Rental Markets: Phoenix metro, Tempe, Scottsdale
- Appreciation Rates: 6–10% annually
Property Tax & Capital Gains Considerations
Property Tax
- Missouri: ~0.9%
- Indiana: ~0.81%
- Arizona: ~0.62% (lowest)
Capital Gains
- Missouri: 4.95%
- Indiana: 3.05%
- Arizona: 2.5% (lowest)
Arizona wins again, lowest property tax + lowest capital gains tax.
Residency Impact on
Love’s Signing Bonus
- Gross Signing Bonus: $35,022,048
- Federal Tax (37%): $22,063,890
| Residency State | State Tax Rate | State Tax on Bonus | Estimated Net Signing Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2.5% | $875,551 | ~$12.08M |
| Indiana | 3.05% | $1.06M | ~$11.89M |
| Missouri | 4.95% | $1.73M | ~$11.21M |
Arizona could potentially save Love:
- ~$185K vs Indiana
- ~$855K vs Missouri
This is a meaningful financial win for anyone, not just the running back.
Investment Scenario:
Turning ~$21.5M Into Real Wealth
Using the Arizona residency scenario, if Love were to invest the entirety of his net signing bonus of ~$21.5M he could potentially see returns of the following, seen in the scenario table below:
| ROI Rate (5 Years) | Projected Value |
|---|---|
| 10% Return | ~$34.6M |
| 12% Return | ~$37.9M |
| 15% Return | ~$43.3M |
| 20% Return | ~$53.6M |
Love has already stated he plans to invest his entire rookie contract and signing bonus.
This is the smartest financial move any running back can make. If he sticks to this plan, Love could be worth $50M+ by the end of his rookie deal.
Jock Tax Considerations
NFL players pay jock taxes in nearly every state they play in.
Residency affects:
- How much income is taxed at home
- How much is taxed on the road
- How much of the signing bonus is taxed
- How much of the base salary is protected
Arizona Advantage
- Lower income tax
- Strong real estate appreciation
- Clean residency
- Lower audit risk (spends most of time there)
Indiana Disadvantage
- Higher income tax
- Worse housing & rental market
- Lower appreciation rates
Missouri Disadvantage
- Highest income tax of the three
- Lower appreciation than Arizona
Arizona is the cleanest, safest, most defensible residency choice for Love.
APSM Real Estate Verdict
Arizona Should Be His Primary Residence.
Missouri Should Be His Emotional Home,
Not His Tax Home.
Indiana Should Only Be a Rental Market.
If Jeremiyah Love wants to maximize his rookie earnings, protect his signing bonus, and build long‑term wealth, the move is simple:
- Establish Arizona residency immediately.
- Invest in Arizona real estate.
- Avoid Missouri and Indiana residency.
- Invest aggressively from Day 1.
Love’s financial future is shaped more by his investment discipline than his address, but Arizona gives him the best foundation.
He is a rookie on the field, but already a role model in financial literacy.
Suggested Real Estate Strategy
for Jeremiyah Love
- Primary residence: Arizona (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler)
- Secondary: Missouri property for family or long‑term rental
- Work base: Phoenix metro
- Invest: Majority of signing bonus into index funds + Arizona real estate
- Goal: Build a $40-$50+ million net worth by Year 5
Love is one of the few rookies who already understands the game:
Invest everything.
Live below your means.
Let compounding do the work.
Next Reads
- 2026 NFL Draft: Every 1st Round Contract Details, Net Income & Residency Analysis
- Fernando Mendoza Real Estate and Residency Analysis: Florida vs Indiana vs Nevada
- Jets #2 Pick David Bailey Is Headed to New York: The $36.8M Residency Mistake That Could Cost the Rookie Millions
- Tyrann Mathieu’s NFL Career Earnings & Financial Legacy
- Arizona State Athlete Taxes
Credits
- Written By: Aidan Anderson
- Research & Analysis: Apostle Sports Media LLC
- Sources: NFL Draft Data, Sportico, Spotrac, Zillow / Redfin Market Research, ESPN, WSJ, APSM Proprietary Analysis
- Featured Image: Public Domain / Instagram
- Disclaimer: This article contains general financial information for educational purposes and does not constitute professional financial advice.
