Real Estate Investing in Lerona, West Virginia (25979)

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

Summers County • Population: 689 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 25979 (Lerona, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 30.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Higher unemployment: 8.9% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $35,333 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lerona, WV (25979)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $203,104
Avg Monthly Rent $801
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $35,333
% Renters 16.6%

Market Analysis: 25979 Lerona

Investors eyeing 25979 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $203K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $203K asset, 25979 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In the broader WV picture, 25979 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

From a cash-flow lens, 689 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Lerona's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 25979. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Lerona:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $801/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)

$216K$193K$170K$147K$124K$101KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25979 Compare?

Metric 25979 Lerona West Virginia
Home Value $203,104 $206,708 $169,372
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.9% 6.1%
Avg Rent $801 $776 -
Cap Rate 3.1% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 25979? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 25979 (Lerona, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 25979 (Lerona, WV)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $203,104
Monthly Rent $801
Price-to-Rent 21.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
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: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
30.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25979

Population: 689

💰 Median Household Income
$35,333
This area
$35,333
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.7 years
This area
46.7 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
👶 Under 18
10.6%
This area
10.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
33.6%
This area
33.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.8%
This area
16.8%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 51 Off-Campus Students
C
Concord University
1,798 students · 7.9 mi
B
Mercer County Technical Education Center
102 students · 14.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Lerona, WV?

Rent in Lerona, WV is around $801/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $203K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the typical renter like in Lerona, WV?

Lerona, WV offers a predictable renter base at the $801/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Does Lerona, WV make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lerona, WV reflects its $203K prices and $801/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WV.

How tight is the rental market in Lerona, WV?

Lerona, WV carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $801/mo.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Lerona, WV?

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

You know 25979 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25979 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 25979 (Lerona)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 25979 (Lerona, WV).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.