Real Estate Investing in Ephrata, Pennsylvania (17522)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 17522 (Ephrata, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
No major risk flags on the data we track.
What’s happening in Ephrata, PA (17522)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 17522 Ephrata
This part of Lancaster County is not an easy win. The 17522 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.
From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $376K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 17522 is substantial and deserves full respect.
Put differently, 17522 offers a low basis, the region around Ephrata has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
A significant renter share of 35% in 17522 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.
New investors are better served looking at Ephrata's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 17522. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Ephrata:
Property Strategy for 17522
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $297,678 | $1,290 | 3.1% | +7.8% | $148,839 |
| 3BR | $336,978 | $1,670 | 3.6% | +8.4% | $112,326 |
| 4BR | $439,300 | $1,710 | 2.8% | +8.5% | $109,825 |
| 5BR | $602,870 | — | — | +8.4% | $120,574 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 17522 Compare?
| Metric | 17522 | Ephrata | Lancaster, PA | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $375,998 | $375,998 | N/A | $278,018 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 6.9% | 6.9% | N/A | 6.3% |
| Avg Rent | $1,386 | $1,386 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.9% | 2.9% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 17522 (Ephrata, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Lancaster County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Susquehanna Realty Management is Central Pennsylvania's residential property management specialist since 2005, offering leasing and association management services. summary from their website
American Heritage Property Management. summary from their website
Compass Property Management LLC provides full-service property management in Lancaster, Chester, and Berks County, Pennsylvania, for owners and renters. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $375,998 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,386 |
| Price-to-Rent | 22.6:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.4% |
| Cap Rate | 2.9% |
| 5-Year IRR | 9.8% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +6.3% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +5.5% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +6.9% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +6.7% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +4.8% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +6.1% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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.
Demographics in 17522
Population: 33,601
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 17522
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (1 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Akron El Sch
About Repit School Scores
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We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:
- Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
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- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How expensive is real estate in Ephrata, PA?
The median home value in Ephrata, PA is roughly $376K. That puts it reasonable relative to the PA statewide average.
Does Ephrata, PA make sense for an investment property?
With a 3.0/5 investability score, Ephrata, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $376K and rents of $1,386/mo drive the underlying numbers.
What kind of tenants rent in Ephrata, PA?
Ephrata, PA offers a reliable renter base at the $1,386/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.
Should investors worry about vacancy in Ephrata, PA?
Vacancy in Ephrata, PA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,386/mo.
What is it like being a landlord in Ephrata, PA?
PA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Ephrata inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.
You know 17522 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17522 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.
How 17522 ranks in Lancaster, PA
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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Community Ratings
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