Real Estate Investing in Buffalo, New York (14216)

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

Erie County • Population: 23,221 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 14216 (Buffalo, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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.

What’s happening in Buffalo, NY (14216)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $341,962
Avg Monthly Rent $1,586
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,033
% Renters 52.6%

Market Analysis: 14216 Buffalo

Investors eyeing 14216 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $342K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $342K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 14216 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader NY picture, 14216 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 14216 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 14216 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $342K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Buffalo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,586/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
24 days
Average time to sell
Fast
8.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 14216

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$97,171/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $226,377 $1,510 4.8% +8.3% $113,188
3BR $306,043 $1,840 4.3% +7.2% $102,014
4BR $388,685 $2,100 3.9% +7.1% $97,171
5BR $605,062 +6.1% $121,012

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$365K$309K$254K$198K$142K$87KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,658$1,524$1,390$1,256$1,123$989Jan 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 14216 Compare?

Metric 14216 Buffalo Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY New York
Home Value $341,962 $237,084 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.8% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,586 $1,433 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 14216? Click to expand

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

53% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 14216 (Buffalo, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $341,962
Monthly Rent $1,586
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +11.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 14216

Population: 23,221

💰 Median Household Income
$67,033
This area
$67,033
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.6%
This area
52.6%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
53.0%
This area
53.0%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.2 years
This area
34.2 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.2%
Black/African American 15.8%
Other/Mixed 10.8%
Hispanic/Latino 7.2%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
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 14216

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
10.8:1 Avg Class Size
$30,158 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

NORTH PARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL #50

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

PS 64 FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

PS 81

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
756 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A Very Good

TAPESTRY CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,126 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,290 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ACADEMY SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
78 Students
👨‍🏫
2.8:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 500 PARKHURST BLVD, BUFFALO
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$30,801 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BEN FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 07 School
📍 540 PARKHURST BLVD, BUFFALO
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$30,801 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BUFFALO ACADEMY FOR THE VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

📚 05 – 12 High School
📍 450 MASTEN AVE, BUFFALO
👥
575 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BURGARD HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 400 KENSINGTON AVE, BUFFALO
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

COMMUNITY SCHOOL #53

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 329 ROEHRER AVE, BUFFALO
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 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 116 Off-Campus Students
C+
SUNY Buffalo State University
6,470 students · 1.4 mi
C+
Canisius University
2,545 students · 1.7 mi
C
Professional Culinary Academy
17 students · 2.0 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda
139 students · 3.0 mi
C
D'Youville University
2,544 students · 3.5 mi
C
Daemen University
2,625 students · 3.9 mi
D
Villa Maria College
545 students · 4.1 mi
C
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
1,840 students · 4.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Buffalo, NY?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Buffalo, NY. With home values at $342K and rents near $1,586/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Is Buffalo, NY good for landlords?

Buffalo, NY operates under NY law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How much rent can I charge in Buffalo, NY?

Rental rates in Buffalo, NY average $1,586/mo. Tenant demand and $342K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Buffalo, NY suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Buffalo, NY. Rents of $1,586/mo against $342K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Buffalo, NY?

Occupancy in Buffalo, NY runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,586/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 14216 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 14216 ranks in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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