Real Estate Investing in Lopez, Pennsylvania (18628)

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

Sullivan County • Population: 152 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18628 (Lopez, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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 vacancy: 64.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lopez, PA (18628)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $97,748
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,583
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 18628 Lopez

Looking more closely, ZIP 18628 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $98K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 18628 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Lopez have seen price recovery that 18628 has not matched. Sullivan County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 18628 ZIP's population of 152 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 18628 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 Lopez:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$102K$92K$82K$72K$62K$52KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18628 Compare?

Metric 18628 Lopez Pennsylvania
Home Value $97,748 $97,748 $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% 6.3%
Avg Rent $972 $972 -
Cap Rate 7.8% 7.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 18628? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18628 (Lopez, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.8%
Good
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $97,748
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 8.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.9%
Cap Rate 7.8%
5-Year IRR 14.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 7.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (7.8%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
64.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18628

Population: 152

💰 Median Household Income
$59,583
This area
$59,583
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.2%
This area
28.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.7 years
This area
51.7 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
64.3%
This area
64.3%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.6%
This area
25.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Lopez, PA?

Rent in Lopez, PA is around $972/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $98K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are tenants stable in Lopez, PA?

Lopez, PA draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $972/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Should investors consider Lopez, PA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Lopez, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $98K and rents of $972/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Lopez, PA?

Lopez, PA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader PA rental market.

Is Lopez, PA good for landlords?

Lopez, PA falls under PA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 18628 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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