Real Estate Investing in South Heights, Pennsylvania (15081)

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

Beaver County • Population: 343 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15081 (South Heights, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 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: 20.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.5% CAGR).

• 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 South Heights, PA (15081)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $130,401
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,833
% Renters 29.4%

Market Analysis: 15081 South Heights

Investors eyeing 15081 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $130K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $130K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 15081 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 15081's metrics run below Beaver County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 15081 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at South Heights's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 15081. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 South Heights:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
42 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
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 Pittsburgh, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$147K$126K$104K$82K$60K$38KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15081 Compare?

Metric 15081 South Heights Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $130,401 $130,401 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 1.5% 1.5% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15081? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 15081 (South Heights, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.5%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Pittsburgh, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
48%
Days Pending
1/2
42 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $130,401
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲

🏠 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
20.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15081

Population: 343

💰 Median Household Income
$65,833
This area
$65,833
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.9 years
This area
49.9 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.6%
This area
20.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.7%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
👶 Under 18
4.9%
This area
4.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
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 15081

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Quaker Valley HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 625 Beaver St, Leetsdale
👥
584 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,408 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Highland El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1101 Highland Avenue, Ambridge
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,404 Per Student
A Very Good

Ambridge Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 909 Duss Avenue, Ambridge
👥
693 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,404 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 506 Off-Campus Students
D
Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry
227 students · 1.3 mi
C
Robert Morris University
4,737 students · 4.0 mi
D
Community College of Beaver County
1,673 students · 6.7 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
504 students · 7.8 mi
C
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
68 students · 10.3 mi
C
Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
52 students · 10.4 mi
C
Pittsburgh Technical College
864 students · 10.7 mi
C
Rosedale Technical College
405 students · 11.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 506 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in South Heights, PA?

South Heights, PA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $972/mo.

What kind of market is South Heights, PA for investors?

Our data puts South Heights, PA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $130K and rents around $972/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are homes affordable in South Heights, PA?

South Heights, PA home values average about $130K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $972/mo in monthly income.

Are landlord laws favorable in South Heights, PA?

Rental owners in South Heights, PA deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking make sense in South Heights, PA?

House hacking in South Heights, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $130K and rents of $972/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

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How 15081 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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