Real Estate Investing in Union, New Jersey (07088)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Union County • Population: 3,083 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 07088 (Union, NJ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Union, NJ (07088)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $474,664
Avg Monthly Rent $2,394
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,556
% Renters 41.2%

Market Analysis: 07088 Union

Investors eyeing 07088 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $475K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 07088 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $475K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within NJ, ZIP 07088 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Union County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 07088 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Union averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 07088 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Union:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,394/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$515K$455K$396K$337K$278K$219KJun 2015Jan 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 07088 Compare?

Metric 07088 Union New Jersey
Home Value $474,664 $530,323 $559,826
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 4.2% 8.4%
Avg Rent $2,394 $2,504 -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 07088? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 41% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 07088 (Union, NJ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Union County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Corner Property Management is a property management company serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $474,664
Monthly Rent $2,394
Price-to-Rent 16.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
2.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 07088

Population: 3,083

💰 Median Household Income
$86,556
This area
$86,556
State
$113,906
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.2%
This area
41.2%
State
28.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-9.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.6%
This area
32.6%
State
25.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.0 years
This area
42.0 years
State
22.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
9.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 71.3%
Other/Mixed 17.6%
Hispanic/Latino 17.0%
White 9.9%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 07088

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Battle Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 2600 KILLIAN PLACE, UNION
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,601 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Berkeley Terrace Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 787 GROVE STREET, IRVINGTON
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$28,458 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Clinton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 27 BERKSHIRE RD, MAPLEWOOD
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$30,915 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Connecticut Farms Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 875 STUYVESANT AVENUE, UNION
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,601 Per Student
A+ Excellent

David Brearley Middle/High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 401 Monroe Avenue, Kenilworth
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,743 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 3,036 Off-Campus Students
C
Lincoln Technical Institute-Union
1,648 students · 0.9 mi
B
Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Leyma
47 students · 1.5 mi
C+
Healthcare Training Institute
103 students · 1.7 mi
C+
Seton Hall University
9,494 students · 2.6 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Union
113 students · 3.3 mi
B
Kean University
13,352 students · 3.8 mi
C
UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
8,081 students · 3.9 mi
C
National Career Institute
148 students · 4.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,036 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Union, NJ a good investment right now?

Yes - Union, NJ a 3.0/5 investability score. With $475K home prices against $2,394/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How do experienced investors play Union, NJ?

In Union, NJ the notable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $475K prices and $2,394/mo rents suits that approach.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Union, NJ?

Rental vacancy in Union, NJ is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is housing expensive in Union, NJ?

In Union, NJ the median home value sits at $475K. Against the broader NJ market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Union, NJ?

Union, NJ offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,394/mo rent level.

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How 07088 ranks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

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