Real Estate Investing in Ulster, Pennsylvania (18837)

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

Bradford County • Population: 2,710 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18837 (Ulster, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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 vacancy: 19.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Ulster, PA (18837)?

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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 $232,369
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,455
% Renters 19.9%

Market Analysis: 18837 Ulster

ZIP 18837 inside Bradford County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $232K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $232K asset, 18837 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 18837 among PA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Stepping back, 2,710 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 18837 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 Ulster:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Sayre, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.2%
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 Sayre, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 18837

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$67,140/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $219,003 $1,240 4.1% $109,502
3BR $228,201 $1,560 4.9% +6.6% $76,067
4BR $268,560 $1,770 4.7% $67,140

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$241K$217K$192K$168K$144K$120KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18837 Compare?

Metric 18837 Ulster Sayre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $232,369 $233,291 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.3% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,085 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18837? 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 18837 (Ulster, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Sayre, PA metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $232,369
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 17.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
19.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18837

Population: 2,710

💰 Median Household Income
$65,455
This area
$65,455
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.9%
This area
19.9%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.9%
This area
18.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.4%
Other/Mixed 2.0%
Black/African American 0.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
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 18837

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$24,196 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent
👥
341 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,196 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northeast Bradford JSHS

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,196 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

1 Nearby 9 Off-Campus Students
D
Northern Tier Career Center
37 students · 13.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ulster, PA rate as a rental market?

Ulster, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $232K and rents near $1,116/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is Ulster, PA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Ulster, PA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($232K prices, $1,116/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Ulster, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Ulster, PA. Rents at $1,116/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How expensive is real estate in Ulster, PA?

The median home value in Ulster, PA is roughly $232K. That puts it reasonable relative to the PA statewide average.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Ulster, PA?

Tenant demand in Ulster, PA is solid. The local workforce $1,116/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 18837 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 18837 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 18837 ranks in Sayre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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