Real Estate Investing in Norfolk, Virginia (23502)

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

Norfolk City • Population: 19,836 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23502 (Norfolk, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Norfolk, VA (23502)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $314,797
Avg Monthly Rent $1,623
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,421
% Renters 49.6%

Market Analysis: 23502 Norfolk

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Norfolk's 23502 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $315K pricing implies.

The investment case in 23502 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $315K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 23502 sits on the difficult end of the VA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 23502 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 23502 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Norfolk:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,623/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 23502

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$80,376/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $222,259 $1,580 5.1% +6.3% $111,129
3BR $291,263 $2,190 5.4% +6.0% $97,088
4BR $346,937 $2,580 5.4% +5.7% $86,734
5BR $401,878 +6.0% $80,376

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$328K$295K$261K$228K$195K$161KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,047$1,924$1,800$1,677$1,554$1,430Mar 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23502 Compare?

Metric 23502 Norfolk Virginia
Home Value $314,797 $281,864 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.1% 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,623 $1,780 -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 23502? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 50% 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 23502 (Norfolk, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Norfolk City County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Real Property Management helps protect investments, provide professional service, minimize costs, and maximize income for property owners. summary from their website

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OV Living offers 1 & 2 bedroom apartments in Norfolk, Virginia, with spacious layouts, light-filled rooms, and convenient features. summary from their website

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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
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $314,797
Monthly Rent $1,623
Price-to-Rent 16.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
5.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23502

Population: 19,836

💰 Median Household Income
$65,421
This area
$65,421
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
49.6%
This area
49.6%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.5%
This area
26.5%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.5 years
This area
38.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 50.1%
White 37.0%
Other/Mixed 9.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Asian 3.5%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.6%
This area
14.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
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 23502

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,833 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lake Taylor

📚 K – 08 School
👥
681 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
A Very Good

Ingleside Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
558 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Easton Preschool at Fairlawn

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
165 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
B Good

Lake Taylor High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,137 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
C+ Average

Norfolk Technical Center

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$15,833 Per Student
C Below Average

Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Tidewater Regional Alternative Ed Project

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Coleman Place Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2445 Palmyra St., Norfolk
👥
560 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
A Very Good

Norview Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6401 Chesapeake Blvd, Norfolk
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
A Very Good

Sherwood Forest Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3035 Sherwood Forest Lane, Norfolk
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
A Very Good

Tanners Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1335 Longdale Dr, Norfolk
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norview Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 6325 Sewells Point Rd, Norfolk
👥
1,152 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,833 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 200 Off-Campus Students
C+
Central School of Practical Nursing
24 students · 0.5 mi
C
Tidewater Tech-Trades
514 students · 1.4 mi
C
Virginia Wesleyan University
1,711 students · 1.4 mi
F
Fortis College-Norfolk
431 students · 1.5 mi
C+
Advanced Technology Institute
377 students · 2.1 mi
C
ECPI University
11,745 students · 2.2 mi
C
Norfolk State University
6,045 students · 3.0 mi
C
Centura College-Norfolk
193 students · 3.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Norfolk, VA?

VA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Norfolk inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How strong is tenant demand in Norfolk, VA?

Working renters make up the core of the Norfolk, VA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Are there empty rentals in Norfolk, VA?

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

Does house hacking make sense in Norfolk, VA?

House hacking works a challenging in Norfolk, VA. Rents of $1,623/mo against $315K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the median home value in Norfolk, VA?

Typical homes in Norfolk, VA go for around $315K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

You know 23502 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 23502 ranks in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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