Real Estate Investing in Waterford, Virginia (20197)

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

Loudoun County • Population: 2,212 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 20197 (Waterford, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
2 flags
  • Higher unemployment: 7.4% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 52.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Waterford, VA (20197)?

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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 $1,309,612
Avg Monthly Rent $2,070
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $224,620
% Renters 11.2%

Market Analysis: 20197 Waterford

This part of Loudoun County is not an easy win. The 20197 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $1.3M asset, 20197 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 20197 and stronger Waterford ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

In practical terms, 2,212 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.

New investors are better served looking at Waterford's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 20197. 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 Waterford:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,070/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 20197

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$292,497/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $894,745 $2,910 2.3% +9.0% $298,248
4BR $1,267,059 $3,420 1.9% +9.7% $316,765
5BR $1,462,486 +9.8% $292,497

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.4M$1.2M$1.0M$861K$687K$513KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 20197 Compare?

Metric 20197 Waterford Virginia
Home Value $1,309,612 $1,299,953 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 7.0% 6.4%
Avg Rent $2,070 $2,174 -
Cap Rate 1.2% 1.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 20197? 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 20197 (Waterford, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 20197 (Waterford, VA)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,309,612
Monthly Rent $2,070
Price-to-Rent 52.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.9%
Cap Rate 1.2%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.2%). 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
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 20197

Population: 2,212

💰 Median Household Income
$224,620
This area
$224,620
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
66.8%
This area
66.8%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.8 years
This area
43.8 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.2%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 6.9%
👶 Under 18
28.5%
This area
28.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 20197

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$20,784 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Waterford Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,784 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

3 Nearby
C+
Patrick Henry College
408 students · 5.3 mi
C
Catholic Distance University
171 students · 14.2 mi
C+
American Public University System
50,187 students · 14.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Waterford, VA?

Rent in Waterford, VA is around $2,070/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $1.3M pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are there empty rentals in Waterford, VA?

Waterford, VA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader VA rental market.

Is real estate in Waterford, VA a good investment right now?

Waterford, VA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $1.3M and rents near $2,070/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is house hacking profitable in Waterford, VA?

House hacking in Waterford, VA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $1.3M and rents of $2,070/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Waterford, VA landlord-friendly?

VA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Waterford generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 20197 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 20197 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 20197 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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