Real Estate Investing in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia (26525)

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

Preston County • Population: 8,390 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26525 (Bruceton Mills, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.7% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in Bruceton Mills, WV (26525)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $69,281
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $90,394
% Renters 11.6%

Market Analysis: 26525 Bruceton Mills

The 26525 ZIP reports an healthy value-add profile — below-median pricing at $69K, a renter base of 12%, and room for operational improvement.

BRRRR works in 26525 because the math supports it. Buy at $69K, rehab, and the refinance step typically recovers capital in a way that flat-yield markets cannot match.

Statewide, WV value-add investors migrate toward ZIPs with 26525's profile — older stock, soft but real rent growth, and $69K pricing that keeps rehab math workable.

The 26525 ZIP's demographic trend has been one of stability with upside — population of 8,390, steady renter share, and an incoming cohort that is willing to pay for improved units.

Strategic fit here is operational. Pro forma discipline, capex reserves, and lender relationships matter more than the marketing pitch.

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 Bruceton Mills:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 0.8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/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 26525

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$74,477/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $179,864 $960 3.8% +6.8% $89,932
3BR $238,284 $1,160 3.5% +6.5% $79,428
4BR $297,910 $1,610 3.9% +5.8% $74,477

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$79K$74K$68K$62K$57K$51KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26525 Compare?

Metric 26525 Bruceton Mills Morgantown, WV West Virginia
Home Value $69,281 $69,281 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 2.2% 2.2% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.7% 9.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26525? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $864/mo on homes averaging $69,281 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 26525 (Bruceton Mills, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.7%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+2.2%
Slow

📉 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 $69,281
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 6.7:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 15.0%
Cap Rate 9.7%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.7%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
15.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26525

Population: 8,390

💰 Median Household Income
$90,394
This area
$90,394
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.6%
Black/African American 24.5%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
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 Bruceton Mills, WV?

Rents in Bruceton Mills, WV run near $864/mo. Compared with median home prices of $69K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How much does a house cost in Bruceton Mills, WV?

Bruceton Mills, WV median home values land near $69K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $864/mo-per-month rentals.

How do experienced investors play Bruceton Mills, WV?

Most investors in Bruceton Mills, WV run a value-add and BRRRR deals strategy. It aligns with the 5.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Can BRRRR investors find deals in Bruceton Mills, WV?

Bruceton Mills, WV is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $864/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $69K values.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Bruceton Mills, WV?

Bruceton Mills, WV is a an attractive market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $69K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 26525 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26525 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 26525 ranks in Morgantown, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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