Real Estate Investing in South Fork, Pennsylvania (15956)

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

Cambria County • Population: 2,464 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15956 (South Fork, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
3 flags
  • Declining values: -12.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 17.7% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in South Fork, PA (15956)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $75,088
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $50,208
% Renters 13.8%

Market Analysis: 15956 South Fork

ZIP 15956 offers what many appreciation markets cannot: an affordable basis at $75K and rent support of $873/mo for rehab-driven equity creation in Cambria County.

Flippers and value-add operators have treated 15956 as a working ZIP for a reason. Entry prices around $75K and a deep rental base of 14% renters underpin the exit strategy on both the sale and rent sides.

Relative to PA, 15956 reads as a working-capital ZIP — prices below average, renter share elevated at 14%, and room for operator-led upside.

The 15956 ZIP's demographic trend has been one of stability with upside — population of 2,464, steady renter share, and an incoming cohort that is willing to pay for improved units.

The strategy in 15956 is forced equity, not market equity. From an investor standpoint, entry prices are accommodating at $75K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Fork:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-17.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Johnstown, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.8%
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 Johnstown, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$172K$151K$131K$110K$89K$68KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15956 Compare?

Metric 15956 South Fork Johnstown, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $75,088 $75,088 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.1% 9.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15956? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $873/mo on homes averaging $75,088 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 15956 (South Fork, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.1%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-12.8%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Johnstown, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $75,088
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 7.2:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 14.0%
Cap Rate 9.1%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -17.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -18.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -12.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR -5.7% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.1%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
9.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-12.8%
Declining
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15956

Population: 2,464

💰 Median Household Income
$50,208
This area
$50,208
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.8 years
This area
43.8 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.9%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
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

7 Nearby 691 Off-Campus Students
C+
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center
102 students · 5.8 mi
C+
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
1,940 students · 6.3 mi
C
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
2,286 students · 6.5 mi
C
DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
108 students · 7.5 mi
B
Commonwealth Technical Institute
132 students · 9.0 mi
C
Mount Aloysius College
2,967 students · 12.4 mi
C+
Saint Francis University
2,835 students · 13.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 691 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in South Fork, PA?

South Fork, PA median home values land near $75K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $873/mo-per-month rentals.

Is South Fork, PA a 1% rule market?

The 1% rule is solid territory for South Fork, PA. Rent-to-price at the median is 1.16%, putting many properties within striking distance.

What are rental rates like in South Fork, PA?

Expect rents around $873/mo per month in South Fork, PA. With home values at $75K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How does South Fork, PA stack up for property investment?

South Fork, PA scores 4.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $75K and rents near $873/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in South Fork, PA?

For house hackers, South Fork, PA is an attractive. The $873/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $75K property.

You know 15956 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15956 ranks in Johnstown, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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