Real Estate Investing in Shavertown, Pennsylvania (18708)

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

Luzerne County • Population: 9,063 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18708 (Shavertown, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Shavertown, PA (18708)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $301,882
Avg Monthly Rent $1,242
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,807
% Renters 17.5%

Market Analysis: 18708 Shavertown

The 18708 ZIP in Shavertown, PA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $302K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 18708 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $302K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader PA picture, 18708 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 18708 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 18708 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 Shavertown:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,242/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 18708

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$91,220/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $273,660 $1,800 4.7% +8.1% $91,220
4BR $404,741 $1,950 3.5% +7.4% $101,185

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$313K$281K$250K$219K$188K$157KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18708 Compare?

Metric 18708 Shavertown Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $301,882 $301,882 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,242 $1,242 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18708? 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 18708 (Shavertown, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $301,882
Monthly Rent $1,242
Price-to-Rent 20.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18708

Population: 9,063

💰 Median Household Income
$78,807
This area
$78,807
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.2%
This area
45.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.6%
Black/African American 3.5%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Asian 1.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
16.9%
This area
16.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,602 Off-Campus Students
D
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
353 students · 3.0 mi
C
Misericordia University
2,107 students · 3.4 mi
C
Fortis Institute-Forty Fort
159 students · 4.1 mi
C
Wilkes University
5,198 students · 5.1 mi
C
King's College
1,932 students · 5.2 mi
C
Luzerne County Community College
4,315 students · 7.3 mi
D
Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing
102 students · 8.1 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley
137 students · 14.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,602 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Shavertown, PA?

In Shavertown, PA the median home value sits at $302K. Against the broader PA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strong are rents in Shavertown, PA?

Rent in Shavertown, PA is around $1,242/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $302K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does house hacking make sense in Shavertown, PA?

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

Does Shavertown, PA favor landlords or tenants?

For rental operators, Shavertown, PA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What type of investing works in Shavertown, PA?

Most investors in Shavertown, PA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 18708 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18708 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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