Real Estate Investing in Richmond, Virginia (23221)

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

Richmond City • Population: 14,180 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23221 (Richmond, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Richmond, VA (23221)?

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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 $659,121
Avg Monthly Rent $1,785
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $96,169
% Renters 48.4%

Market Analysis: 23221 Richmond

The 23221 ZIP in Richmond, VA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $659K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 23221 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $659K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Richmond have seen price recovery that 23221 has not matched. Richmond City data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 23221 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Richmond averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 23221, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Richmond:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,785/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
Richmond, VA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
31 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
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 Richmond, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 23221

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$172,178/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $270,457 $1,810 4.8% +7.3% $270,457
2BR $344,356 $1,990 4.2% +2.9% $172,178
3BR $649,223 $2,490 2.8% +7.1% $216,408
4BR $924,944 $3,070 2.4% +7.7% $231,236
5BR $1,665,258 +9.7% $333,052

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$693K$595K$498K$400K$302K$205KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,932$1,764$1,596$1,428$1,260$1,092Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23221 Compare?

Metric 23221 Richmond Richmond, VA Virginia
Home Value $659,121 $141,872 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 5.7% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,785 $1,732 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 23221? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 48% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 23221 (Richmond, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Richmond City County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Landmark Property Services Inc. provides property management services, including apartment search and resident services. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Peak Property Management offers residential property management and lease-only services in Richmond and surrounding areas. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Real Property Management Richmond Metro is a property management company in Richmond, VA, focused on delivering peace of mind. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Richmond, VA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
29%
Days Pending
0/2
31 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $659,121
Monthly Rent $1,785
Price-to-Rent 30.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
3.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23221

Population: 14,180

💰 Median Household Income
$96,169
This area
$96,169
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
48.4%
This area
48.4%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
76.3%
This area
76.3%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.3 years
This area
35.3 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.5%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Black/African American 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.7%
Asian 1.7%
👶 Under 18
12.5%
This area
12.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
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 23221

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$22,807 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Albert Hill Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Thomas Jefferson High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 4100 W Grace St, Richmond
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Maymont Pre-K Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 1211 S. Allen Ave., Richmond
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Open High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 600 S Pine St, Richmond
👥
173 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

George W. Carver Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1110 W Leigh St, Richmond
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

Westover Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1211 Jahnke Rd, Richmond
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 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

8 Nearby 1,073 Off-Campus Students
D
Fortis College-Richmond
399 students · 2.0 mi
C+
Virginia Commonwealth University
28,238 students · 2.1 mi
C
Virginia Union University
1,662 students · 2.3 mi
C
Union Presbyterian Seminary
173 students · 2.9 mi
B+
University of Richmond
3,776 students · 3.1 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
374 students · 3.9 mi
D
Centura College-Richmond Main
31 students · 4.7 mi
D
Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing
79 students · 5.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,073 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $1,785/mo.

Does Richmond, VA favor landlords or tenants?

Landlord-friendliness in Richmond, VA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What price range are homes in Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA home values average about $659K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,785/mo in monthly income.

Are rents high in Richmond, VA?

Expect rents around $1,785/mo per month in Richmond, VA. With home values at $659K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the renter demographic in Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,785/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 23221 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 23221 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 23221 ranks in Richmond, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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