Real Estate Investing in Bear Lake, Pennsylvania (16402)

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

Warren County • Population: 570 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16402 (Bear Lake, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 19.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Bear Lake, PA (16402)?

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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 $170,773
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,500
% Renters 6.2%

Market Analysis: 16402 Bear Lake

The 16402 ZIP in Bear Lake, PA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $171K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 16402 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $171K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within PA, ZIP 16402 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Warren County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 16402 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 16402 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Bear Lake:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/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
Warren, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.8%
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 Warren, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$165K$155K$146K$136K$127KFeb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16402 Compare?

Metric 16402 Bear Lake Warren, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $170,773 $170,773 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 4.4% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16402? 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 16402 (Bear Lake, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Warren, PA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
65%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $170,773
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 15.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
19.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16402

Population: 570

💰 Median Household Income
$70,500
This area
$70,500
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.6%
This area
12.6%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.7 years
This area
48.7 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.6%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Hispanic/Latino 5.3%
👶 Under 18
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.2%
This area
26.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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

2 Nearby 31 Off-Campus Students
C+
Erie 2 Chautauqua Cattaraugus BOCES-Practical Nursing Program
44 students · 11.1 mi
D
Jamestown Business College
251 students · 14.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Bear Lake, PA stack up for property investment?

Bear Lake, PA records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $171K and average rents around $927/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

Is vacancy a concern in Bear Lake, PA?

Rental vacancy in Bear Lake, PA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What is the renter demographic in Bear Lake, PA?

Tenant quality in Bear Lake, PA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $927/mo.

How landlord-friendly is Bear Lake, PA?

The landlord environment in Bear Lake, PA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What do landlords charge for rent in Bear Lake, PA?

Expect rents around $927/mo per month in Bear Lake, PA. With home values at $171K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 16402 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 16402 ranks in Warren, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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