Real Estate Investing in Houston, Delaware (19954)

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

Kent County • Population: 1,728 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 19954 (Houston, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 Houston, DE (19954)?

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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 $351,796
Avg Monthly Rent $1,269
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,219
% Renters 25.6%

Market Analysis: 19954 Houston

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Houston's 19954 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $352K pricing implies.

The investment case in 19954 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $352K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 19954 sits on the difficult end of the DE spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 19954 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Houston's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 19954. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Houston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,269/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Dover, DE Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
40 days
Average time to sell
Average
13.0%
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 Dover, DE metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 19954

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$113,877/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $244,731 $1,410 4.1% $122,365
3BR $341,630 $1,960 4.1% +8.4% $113,877

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$368K$322K$275K$229K$183K$137KOct 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19954 Compare?

Metric 19954 Houston Dover, DE Delaware
Home Value $351,796 $351,796 N/A $397,840
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.8% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,269 $1,269 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19954? 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 19954 (Houston, DE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dover, DE metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
38%
Days Pending
0/2
40 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $351,796
Monthly Rent $1,269
Price-to-Rent 23.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
6.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19954

Population: 1,728

💰 Median Household Income
$59,219
This area
$59,219
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.6%
This area
25.6%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.1%
Black/African American 10.8%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
B
Polytech Adult Education
631 students · 12.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical vacancy rate in Houston, DE?

Vacancy in Houston, DE is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,269/mo.

How does Houston, DE stack up for property investment?

Our data puts Houston, DE at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $352K and rents around $1,269/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are renters plentiful in Houston, DE?

Tenant quality in Houston, DE ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,269/mo.

What is it like being a landlord in Houston, DE?

For rental operators, Houston, DE rates as balanced. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Are homes affordable in Houston, DE?

Median home price in Houston, DE is near $352K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 19954 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 19954 ranks in Dover, DE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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