Real Estate Investing in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (16823)

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

Centre County • Population: 29,168 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16823 (Bellefonte, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Bellefonte, PA (16823)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $315,541
Avg Monthly Rent $1,513
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,087
% Renters 27.2%

Market Analysis: 16823 Bellefonte

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Bellefonte's 16823 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $316K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $316K asset, 16823 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In the broader PA picture, 16823 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A healthy renter share of 27% in 16823 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 16823 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $316K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Bellefonte:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,513/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
State College, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.6%
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 State College, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 16823

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$80,863/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $170,449 $1,120 4.7% +2.8% $170,449
2BR $225,996 $1,290 4.1% +5.2% $112,998
3BR $294,644 $1,570 3.8% +5.3% $98,215
4BR $401,081 $1,710 3.1% +5.7% $100,270
5BR $404,316 +5.4% $80,863

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$329K$290K$251K$212K$174K$135KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,539$1,463$1,387$1,311$1,235$1,159Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16823 Compare?

Metric 16823 Bellefonte State College, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $315,541 $315,541 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,513 $1,513 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16823? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 16823 (Bellefonte, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Centre County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Nittany Property Management. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on State College, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
34 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $315,541
Monthly Rent $1,513
Price-to-Rent 17.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16823

Population: 29,168

💰 Median Household Income
$77,087
This area
$77,087
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.2%
This area
27.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.5%
This area
29.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.3 years
This area
45.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.4%
Black/African American 7.0%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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 16823

A Avg School Grade
9 Schools
10.5:1 Avg Class Size
$20,474 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Wingate El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,647 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bellefonte El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bald Eagle Area MS/SHS

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
852 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,647 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bellefonte Area MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
617 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Marion-Walker El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
A Very Good

Pleasant Gap El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
A Very Good

Bellefonte Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
844 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
A Very Good

Benner El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
241 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,749 Per Student
B Good
👥
4 Students
👨‍🏫
0.3:1 Class Size
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

4 Nearby 9,651 Off-Campus Students
C+
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
126 students · 3.4 mi
B+
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
50,399 students · 10.3 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
13,564 students · 10.3 mi
C
South Hills School of Business & Technology
242 students · 11.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,651 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 Bellefonte, PA?

Homes in Bellefonte, PA typically sell near $316K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

Is Bellefonte, PA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Bellefonte, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How strong is the working-renter base in Bellefonte, PA?

The renter base in Bellefonte, PA is reasonable for the $1,513/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

Can I house hack in Bellefonte, PA?

Bellefonte, PA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,513/mo rent level.

Is Bellefonte, PA good for landlords?

For rental operators, Bellefonte, PA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

You know 16823 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 16823 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.

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How 16823 ranks in State College, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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