Real Estate Investing in Ravenswood, West Virginia (26133)

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

Wood County • Population: 1,247 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26133 (Ravenswood, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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: 18.3% 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 Ravenswood, WV (26133)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $194,466
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,798
% Renters 7.2%

Market Analysis: 26133 Ravenswood

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Ravenswood's 26133 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $194K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 26133 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 26133's metrics run below Wood County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 26133 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.

Strategy in 26133 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $194K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Ravenswood:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/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
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.3%
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 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$210K$192K$174K$156K$138K$120KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26133 Compare?

Metric 26133 Ravenswood Parkersburg-Vienna, WV West Virginia
Home Value $194,466 $191,514 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 5.4% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $945 $916 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26133? 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 26133 (Ravenswood, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $194,466
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
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: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
18.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26133

Population: 1,247

💰 Median Household Income
$72,798
This area
$72,798
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.3%
This area
18.3%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.5%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
👶 Under 18
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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

3 Nearby 912 Off-Campus Students
C
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
28 students · 10.7 mi
C+
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
2,584 students · 11.0 mi
C
Mountain State College
30 students · 12.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 912 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ravenswood, WV suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Ravenswood, WV is a challenging. The $945/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $194K property.

How much do tenants pay in Ravenswood, WV?

Expect rents around $945/mo per month in Ravenswood, WV. With home values at $194K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the renter demographic in Ravenswood, WV?

Ravenswood, WV offers a consistent renter base at the $945/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Ravenswood, WV?

Ravenswood, WV falls under WV landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How should investors approach Ravenswood, WV?

Most investors in Ravenswood, 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.

You know 26133 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 26133 ranks in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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