Real Estate Investing in Fort Gay, West Virginia (25517)

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

Wayne County • Population: 1,328 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 25517 (Fort Gay, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 22.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.4% CAGR).
  • Higher unemployment: 7.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $38,359 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Fort Gay, WV (25517)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $126,423
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $38,359
% Renters 23.5%

Market Analysis: 25517 Fort Gay

Meanwhile, ZIP 25517 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $126K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 25517 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 25517 sits on the difficult end of the WV spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 25517 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 25517 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Fort Gay:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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)

$136K$126K$116K$107K$97K$88KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25517 Compare?

Metric 25517 Fort Gay West Virginia
Home Value $126,423 $117,968 $169,372
5-Year CAGR 0.4% 0.4% 6.1%
Avg Rent $873 $903 -
Cap Rate 5.4% 6.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 25517? 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 25517 (Fort Gay, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $126,423
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 12.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.3%
Cap Rate 5.4%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
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: 5.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.4%). 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
22.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25517

Population: 1,328

💰 Median Household Income
$38,359
This area
$38,359
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.9 years
This area
45.9 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
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 25517

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
5.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,947 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Genoa Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
49 Students
👨‍🏫
5.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,947 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

How much is rent in Fort Gay, WV?

Investors in Fort Gay, WV typically see rents near $873/mo per month against $126K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Fort Gay, WV?

Fort Gay, WV carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $873/mo.

Is Fort Gay in WV worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Fort Gay, WV ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $126K and rents of $873/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Are landlord laws favorable in Fort Gay, WV?

WV ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Fort Gay generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Fort Gay, WV?

Tenant quality in Fort Gay, WV ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $873/mo.

You know 25517 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25517 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 25517 ranks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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