Real Estate Investing in Ballard, West Virginia (24918)

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

Monroe County • Population: 1,437 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 24918 (Ballard, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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: 32.7% 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 Ballard, WV (24918)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $210,759
Avg Monthly Rent $783
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,625
% Renters 33.3%

Market Analysis: 24918 Ballard

The 24918 ZIP in Ballard, WV is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $211K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 24918 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $211K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 24918's metrics run below Monroe County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 24918 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 24918 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Ballard:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $783/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$224K$200K$176K$152K$128K$104KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 24918 Compare?

Metric 24918 Ballard West Virginia
Home Value $210,759 $210,759 $169,372
5-Year CAGR 8.1% 8.1% 6.1%
Avg Rent $783 $783 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 24918? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 24918 (Ballard, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,759
Monthly Rent $783
Price-to-Rent 22.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 11.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
32.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 24918

Population: 1,437

💰 Median Household Income
$55,625
This area
$55,625
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.2 years
This area
31.2 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
32.7%
This area
32.7%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.6%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
32.0%
This area
32.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Ballard, WV?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Ballard, WV reflects its $211K prices and $783/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WV.

How strong are rents in Ballard, WV?

The typical rental in Ballard, WV commands about $783/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $211K purchase basis.

Is rental property easy to operate in Ballard, WV?

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

Is Ballard, WV suited for a house hack?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Ballard, WV reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Ballard, WV?

Expect elevated vacancy in Ballard, WV. Rents at $783/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

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