Real Estate Investing in Gretna, Virginia (24557)

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

Pittsylvania County • Population: 7,832 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 24557 (Gretna, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 18.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Gretna, VA (24557)?

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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 $177,281
Avg Monthly Rent $819
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,688
% Renters 28.8%

Market Analysis: 24557 Gretna

ZIP 24557 inside Pittsylvania County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $177K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 24557 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In practical terms, 24557 offers a low basis, the region around Gretna has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 24557 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Gretna:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $819/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Danville, VA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Danville, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 24557

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$65,569/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $141,287 $910 4.6% +7.9% $70,644
3BR $197,985 $1,270 4.6% +7.9% $65,995
4BR $262,274 $1,430 3.9% +7.6% $65,569

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$184K$165K$147K$128K$109K$91KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 24557 Compare?

Metric 24557 Gretna Danville, VA Virginia
Home Value $177,281 $177,281 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $819 $819 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 24557? 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 24557 (Gretna, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Danville, VA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $177,281
Monthly Rent $819
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
18.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 24557

Population: 7,832

💰 Median Household Income
$41,688
This area
$41,688
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.8%
This area
28.8%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.7 years
This area
51.7 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.2%
This area
18.2%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.0%
Black/African American 20.1%
Other/Mixed 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
👶 Under 18
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.3%
This area
26.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.0%
This area
16.0%
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 24557

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$13,816 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Gretna Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,816 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Gretna Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,816 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Gretna High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
539 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,816 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mount Airy Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
142 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,816 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Gretna, VA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Gretna, VA. Rents at $819/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Gretna, VA good for landlords?

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

How strong is the working-renter base in Gretna, VA?

The renter base in Gretna, VA is reasonable for the $819/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

Is Gretna, VA suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Gretna, VA is a challenging. The $819/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $177K property.

Which real estate strategy fits Gretna, VA?

The best-fit strategy in Gretna, VA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

You know 24557 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 24557 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 24557 ranks in Danville, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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