Real Estate Investing in Monterville, West Virginia (26294)

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

Randolph County • Population: 335 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26294 (Monterville, 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 (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: 35.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Monterville, WV (26294)?

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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 $114,676
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,125
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 26294 Monterville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Monterville's 26294 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $115K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 26294 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $115K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 26294 sits on the difficult end of the WV spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 26294 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 26294 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 Monterville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Elkins, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.4%
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 Elkins, WV metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$124K$112K$100K$88K$77K$65KJan 2015Oct 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26294 Compare?

Metric 26294 Monterville Elkins, WV West Virginia
Home Value $114,676 $126,278 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 1.5% 1.5% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $837 $819 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.7% 5.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26294? 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 26294 (Monterville, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.5%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Elkins, WV metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $114,676
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 11.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.8%
Cap Rate 5.7%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.7%). 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
35.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26294

Population: 335

💰 Median Household Income
$42,125
This area
$42,125
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.8%
This area
18.8%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
59.8 years
This area
59.8 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
35.5%
This area
35.5%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
34.2%
This area
34.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.6%
This area
16.6%
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

Where do rents currently stand in Monterville, WV?

Monterville, WV rentals go for roughly $837/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $115K acquisition costs.

Are homes affordable in Monterville, WV?

Homes in Monterville, WV typically sell near $115K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

Is Monterville in WV worth investing in?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Monterville, WV reflects its $115K prices and $837/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WV.

What are vacancy rates like in Monterville, WV?

Expect elevated vacancy in Monterville, WV. Rents at $837/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Which real estate strategy fits Monterville, WV?

Most investors in Monterville, 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 26294 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 26294 ranks in Elkins, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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