Real Estate Investing in Albright, West Virginia (26519)

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

Preston County • Population: 2,126 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26519 (Albright, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated poverty: 22.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Albright, WV (26519)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $166,409
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,083
% Renters 28.3%

Market Analysis: 26519 Albright

This part of Preston County is not an easy win. The 26519 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 26519 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within WV, ZIP 26519 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Preston County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

The 26519 ZIP's population of 2,126 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 26519 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Albright:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/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
Morgantown, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.6%
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 Morgantown, WV metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 26519

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$51,197/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $156,138 $980 4.5% +8.3% $78,069
3BR $181,637 $1,180 4.7% +7.5% $60,546
4BR $204,788 $1,610 5.7% $51,197

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$159K$144K$129K$115K$100KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26519 Compare?

Metric 26519 Albright Morgantown, WV West Virginia
Home Value $166,409 $166,409 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26519? 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 26519 (Albright, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Morgantown, WV metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $166,409
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 15.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
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: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26519

Population: 2,126

💰 Median Household Income
$52,083
This area
$52,083
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.4%
Other/Mixed 0.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.1%
👶 Under 18
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.0%
This area
22.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Albright, WV?

The median home value in Albright, WV is roughly $166K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WV statewide average.

Is rental property easy to operate in Albright, WV?

The landlord environment in Albright, WV is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How much is rent in Albright, WV?

Rents in Albright, WV run near $882/mo. Compared with median home prices of $166K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Does Albright, WV make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Albright, WV ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $166K and rents of $882/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the renter demographic in Albright, WV?

Tenant quality in Albright, WV ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $882/mo.

You know 26519 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26519 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 26519 ranks in Morgantown, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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