Real Estate Investing in Garrett, Pennsylvania (15542)

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

Somerset County • Population: 1,096 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15542 (Garrett, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Garrett, PA (15542)?

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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 $159,559
Avg Monthly Rent $1,134
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,667
% Renters 14.8%

Market Analysis: 15542 Garrett

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 15542 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $160K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,134/mo on a $160K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 15542 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Garrett have seen price recovery that 15542 has not matched. Somerset County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 15542 ZIP's population of 1,096 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 15542 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 Garrett:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,134/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Somerset, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.4%
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 Somerset, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$165K$150K$136K$121K$107K$92KJan 2015Oct 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15542 Compare?

Metric 15542 Garrett Somerset, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $159,559 $159,559 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.1% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,134 $1,134 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15542? 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 15542 (Garrett, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Somerset, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
56%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $159,559
Monthly Rent $1,134
Price-to-Rent 11.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
15.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15542

Population: 1,096

💰 Median Household Income
$51,667
This area
$51,667
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.0 years
This area
54.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.9%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
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+
Somerset County Technology Center
50 students · 9.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Garrett, PA?

In Garrett, PA the median home value sits at $160K. Against the broader PA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strong is tenant demand in Garrett, PA?

Garrett, PA draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $1,134/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Should investors consider Garrett, PA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Garrett, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $160K and rents of $1,134/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Which real estate strategy fits Garrett, PA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Garrett, PA. The numbers - $160K homes against $1,134/mo rents - support that play.

What is it like being a landlord in Garrett, PA?

PA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Garrett inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 15542 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15542 ranks in Somerset, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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