Real Estate Investing in Salunga, Pennsylvania (17538)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 7,121 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17538 (Salunga, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Salunga, PA (17538)?

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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 $447,983
Avg Monthly Rent $1,134
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,825
% Renters 14.8%

Market Analysis: 17538 Salunga

Put differently, ZIP 17538 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $448K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 17538 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 17538 sits on the difficult end of the PA spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A sturdy renter share of 15% in 17538 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 17538 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 Salunga:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,134/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
Lancaster, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
18 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.5%
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 Lancaster, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 17538

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$123,615/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $318,317 $1,260 2.8% +8.7% $159,159
3BR $370,845 $1,640 3.2% +8.3% $123,615
4BR $498,718 $1,670 2.4% +8.4% $124,679

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$469K$413K$356K$299K$242K$186KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17538 Compare?

Metric 17538 Salunga Lancaster, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $447,983 $447,983 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,134 $1,134 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17538? 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 17538 (Salunga, 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

Single-familySmall multifamilyHOA
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American Heritage Property Management. summary from their website

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Compass Property Management LLC provides full-service property management in Lancaster, Chester, and Berks County, Pennsylvania, for owners and renters. 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
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lancaster, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
24%
Days Pending
0/2
18 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $447,983
Monthly Rent $1,134
Price-to-Rent 32.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
1.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17538

Population: 7,121

💰 Median Household Income
$94,825
This area
$94,825
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.8%
This area
41.8%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.3 years
This area
51.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.2%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Black/African American 2.1%
Asian 1.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
👶 Under 18
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 17538

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
15.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,653 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Landisville MS

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,653 Per Student
A Very Good

Landisville Intrmd Ctr

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
482 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,653 Per Student
A Very Good

Landisville Pri Ctr

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
580 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,653 Per Student
B Good

Hempfield SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,254 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,653 Per Student
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

8 Nearby 417 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
87 students · 4.7 mi
B
Franklin and Marshall College
1,911 students · 5.8 mi
C
Lancaster Theological Seminary
61 students · 6.0 mi
C+
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
323 students · 6.5 mi
C+
Cutting Edge Barber Academy
28 students · 6.6 mi
C
Champ's Barber School
45 students · 6.7 mi
C+
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
6,732 students · 6.8 mi
C
Lancaster Bible College
2,455 students · 6.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Salunga, PA?

Salunga, PA home values average about $448K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,134/mo in monthly income.

What do landlords charge for rent in Salunga, PA?

Expect rents around $1,134/mo per month in Salunga, PA. With home values at $448K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

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

The renter base in Salunga, PA is reasonable for the $1,134/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

What strategy should investors use in Salunga, PA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Salunga, PA. With home values at $448K and rents near $1,134/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

How strong is Salunga, PA for real estate investors?

Salunga, PA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $448K and rents near $1,134/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 17538 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17538 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 17538 ranks in Lancaster, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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