Real Estate Investing in Richmond, Virginia (23235)

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

Chesterfield County • Population: 33,207 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23235 (Richmond, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Richmond, VA (23235)?

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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 $422,432
Avg Monthly Rent $1,879
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $88,767
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 23235 Richmond

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Richmond's 23235 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $422K pricing implies.

The 23235 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 23235 among VA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 23235 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.

Strategy in 23235 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $422K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,879/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 23235

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$108,657/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $281,162 $1,910 4.9% +7.9% $140,581
3BR $360,756 $2,390 4.8% +7.8% $120,252
4BR $434,630 $2,950 4.9% +7.8% $108,657
5BR $545,461 +7.9% $109,092

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$442K$386K$331K$275K$220K$164KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,000$1,894$1,788$1,682$1,576$1,471Oct 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23235 Compare?

Metric 23235 Richmond Richmond, VA Virginia
Home Value $422,432 $141,872 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 5.7% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,879 $1,732 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 23235? 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 23235 (Richmond, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
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 $422,432
Monthly Rent $1,879
Price-to-Rent 18.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23235

Population: 33,207

💰 Median Household Income
$88,767
This area
$88,767
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
51.3%
This area
51.3%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.5 years
This area
44.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.4%
Black/African American 17.7%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
Asian 3.8%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
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 23235

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,456 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

J.B. Fisher Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
278 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bon Air Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
526 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Greenfield Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
485 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B Good

Manchester Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,111 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B Good

Providence Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,024 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

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
A Very Good

Richmond High School for the Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 4314 Crutchfield St, Richmond
👥
1,292 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

Chesterfield Virtual School

📚 K – 08 School
📍 421 South Providence Road, Chesterfield
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
A Very Good

Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5601 Jahnke Rd, Richmond
👥
344 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

G.H. Reid Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1301 Whitehead Rd, Richmond
👥
660 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 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
Centura College-Richmond Main
31 students · 1.5 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
374 students · 2.0 mi
B+
University of Richmond
3,776 students · 4.7 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Midlothian
87 students · 5.4 mi
C
Lotus Professional College
161 students · 5.7 mi
D
Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing
79 students · 6.1 mi
D
Fortis College-Richmond
399 students · 6.3 mi
C+
Virginia Commonwealth University
28,238 students · 6.6 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA posts an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $422K and average rents around $1,879/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Which investment style suits Richmond, VA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Richmond, VA best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $422K price point.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Richmond, VA?

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

How strong is tenant demand in Richmond, VA?

Richmond, VA draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,879/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 23235 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 23235 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 23235 ranks in Richmond, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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