Real Estate Investing in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania (18617)

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

Luzerne County • Population: 1,616 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18617 (Glen Lyon, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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

📈 For Investors
GOOD
4.0 / 5 (66/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 25.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $32,955 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Glen Lyon, PA (18617)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

5.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $129,012
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $32,955
% Renters 42.2%

Market Analysis: 18617 Glen Lyon

This part of Luzerne County is not an easy win. The 18617 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $129K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 18617 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within PA, ZIP 18617 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Luzerne County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 18617 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Glen Lyon averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 18617 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 Glen Lyon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/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
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
39 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.8%
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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$137K$115K$93K$71K$49K$28KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18617 Compare?

Metric 18617 Glen Lyon Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $129,012 $129,012 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 13.9% 13.9% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18617? Click to expand

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18617 (Glen Lyon, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+13.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $129,012
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 11.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 19.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +13.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +12.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
25.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+13.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18617

Population: 1,616

💰 Median Household Income
$32,955
This area
$32,955
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.2%
This area
42.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.5 years
This area
46.5 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.6%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Black/African American 4.9%
Asian 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
12.9%
This area
12.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
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

8 Nearby 2,580 Off-Campus Students
C
Luzerne County Community College
4,315 students · 4.8 mi
D
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
353 students · 9.8 mi
C
Wilkes University
5,198 students · 10.9 mi
C
King's College
1,932 students · 11.6 mi
C
Fortis Institute-Forty Fort
159 students · 12.6 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
510 students · 13.2 mi
C
Misericordia University
2,107 students · 13.2 mi
C
Hazleton Area Career Center
7 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,580 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Glen Lyon, PA for real estate investors?

Investors tracking Glen Lyon, PA will find a 4.0/5 rating supported by $129K median home values and $954/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting stable returns.

What approach is best for Glen Lyon, PA real estate?

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

Where do rents currently stand in Glen Lyon, PA?

Rent in Glen Lyon, PA is around $954/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $129K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Glen Lyon, PA?

House hacking works a challenging in Glen Lyon, PA. Rents of $954/mo against $129K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is vacancy a concern in Glen Lyon, PA?

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

You know 18617 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18617 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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