Real Estate Investing in Swain, New York (14884)

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

Allegany County • Population: 363 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 14884 (Swain, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 58.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Swain, NY (14884)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $156,154
Avg Monthly Rent $1,161
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,750
% Renters 13.4%

Market Analysis: 14884 Swain

Investors eyeing 14884 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $156K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $156K asset, 14884 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within NY, ZIP 14884 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Allegany County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 14884 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 14884 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Swain:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,161/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$162K$145K$128K$111K$94K$78KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 14884 Compare?

Metric 14884 Swain New York
Home Value $156,154 $156,154 $505,608
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,161 $1,161 -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 14884? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 14884 (Swain, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 14884 (Swain, NY)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $156,154
Monthly Rent $1,161
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 10.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
58.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 14884

Population: 363

💰 Median Household Income
$57,750
This area
$57,750
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.1 years
This area
39.1 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
58.4%
This area
58.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.7%
Other/Mixed 0.3%
👶 Under 18
26.7%
This area
26.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
C+
Houghton University
1,014 students · 14.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Swain, NY?

Swain, NY sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NY rental market.

How strong is the working-renter base in Swain, NY?

Tenant quality in Swain, NY ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $1,161/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Swain, NY?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Swain, NY best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $156K price point.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Swain, NY?

House hacking in Swain, NY is reasonable to execute. Prices around $156K and rents of $1,161/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Swain, NY a good place for real estate investing?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Swain, NY ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $156K and rents of $1,161/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 14884 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 14884 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 14884 (Swain)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 14884 (Swain, NY).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.