Real Estate Investing in Lesage, West Virginia (25537)

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

Cabell County • Population: 1,553 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 25537 (Lesage, 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 (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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 24.8% 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 Lesage, WV (25537)?

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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 $159,595
Avg Monthly Rent $981
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,861
% Renters 40.6%

Market Analysis: 25537 Lesage

Investors eyeing 25537 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $160K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 25537 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 25537 among WV's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 25537 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lesage averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. impressive returns are possible in 25537, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Lesage:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $981/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 25537

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$53,979/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $114,173 $1,090 6.9% +6.3% $57,086
3BR $161,938 $1,390 6.2% +4.9% $53,979

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$166K$150K$134K$118K$102K$85KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25537 Compare?

Metric 25537 Lesage West Virginia
Home Value $159,595 $159,595 $169,372
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% 6.1%
Avg Rent $981 $981 -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 25537? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 41% 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 25537 (Lesage, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 25537 (Lesage, WV)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $159,595
Monthly Rent $981
Price-to-Rent 13.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
24.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25537

Population: 1,553

💰 Median Household Income
$54,861
This area
$54,861
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.6%
This area
40.6%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.4 years
This area
51.4 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.4%
Other/Mixed 2.6%
👶 Under 18
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.6%
This area
15.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.0%
This area
13.0%
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 25537

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,738 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Cox Landing Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,738 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

6 Nearby 1,500 Off-Campus Students
C
Huntington School of Beauty Culture
115 students · 9.1 mi
C+
Cabell County Career Technology Center
26 students · 10.6 mi
C+
Collins Career Technical Center
427 students · 11.4 mi
C+
Marshall University
11,027 students · 11.6 mi
D
Huntington Junior College
209 students · 12.3 mi
C
Mountwest Community and Technical College
1,459 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,500 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Lesage, WV?

Median home price in Lesage, WV is near $160K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What strategy should investors use in Lesage, WV?

Most investors in Lesage, WV run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Lesage, WV landlord-friendly?

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

Is Lesage, WV good for house hacking?

Lesage, WV is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $160K price point reasonable to enter.

Is the tenant base reliable in Lesage, WV?

Tenant quality in Lesage, WV ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $981/mo.

You know 25537 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25537 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 25537 ranks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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