Real Estate Investing in Damascus, Pennsylvania (18415)

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

Wayne County • Population: 1,242 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18415 (Damascus, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 42.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.7 — 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 Damascus, PA (18415)?

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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 $359,131
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,469
% Renters 5.8%

Market Analysis: 18415 Damascus

ZIP 18415 inside Wayne County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $359K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 18415 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within PA, ZIP 18415 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Wayne County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 18415 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Damascus averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 18415 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 Damascus:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 18415

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$100,180/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $273,520 $1,120 2.9% +9.5% $136,760
3BR $337,809 $1,470 3.1% +9.5% $112,603
4BR $400,719 $1,800 3.2% +9.9% $100,180

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$379K$332K$284K$237K$190K$142KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18415 Compare?

Metric 18415 Damascus Pennsylvania
Home Value $359,131 $359,131 $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 18415? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18415 (Damascus, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $359,131
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 29.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
42.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18415

Population: 1,242

💰 Median Household Income
$70,469
This area
$70,469
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
5.8%
This area
5.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.9%
This area
40.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.6 years
This area
57.6 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
42.4%
This area
42.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.2%
Other/Mixed 14.5%
Hispanic/Latino 11.5%
Asian 3.0%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
6.0%
This area
6.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.2%
This area
40.2%
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 18415

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.9:1 Avg Class Size
$26,735 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Damascus Area Sch

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,735 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Damascus, PA?

Damascus, PA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is Damascus, PA landlord-friendly?

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

What is the investability score for Damascus, PA?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Damascus, PA reflects its $359K prices and $1,008/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within PA.

Does house hacking work in Damascus, PA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Damascus, PA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What are rental rates like in Damascus, PA?

Rents in Damascus, PA run near $1,008/mo. Compared with median home prices of $359K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 18415 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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