Real Estate Investing in Knoxville, Tennessee (37916)

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

Knox County • Population: 14,771 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37916 (Knoxville, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 74.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
  • Lower household income: $18,586 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Knoxville, TN (37916)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

5.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $506,882
Avg Monthly Rent $1,353
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $18,586
% Renters 97.1%

Market Analysis: 37916 Knoxville

On balance, ZIP 37916 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $507K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 37916 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $507K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader TN picture, 37916 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

In practical terms, 14,771 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.

Strategy in 37916 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $507K 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 Knoxville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 27.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,353/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
54 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.7%
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 Knoxville, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 37916

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+20.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$158,276/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $225,057 $1,210 3.9% +20.0% $225,057
2BR $340,008 $1,500 3.2% +14.5% $170,004
3BR $474,829 $1,900 2.9% +13.3% $158,276

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$535K$454K$373K$292K$211K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$4,553$3,866$3,179$2,491$1,804$1,116May 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37916 Compare?

Metric 37916 Knoxville Knoxville, TN Tennessee
Home Value $506,882 $207,092 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 13.7% 8.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,353 $1,756 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37916? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

97% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37916 (Knoxville, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Knox County

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+13.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Knoxville, TN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
1/2
54 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $506,882
Monthly Rent $1,353
Price-to-Rent 31.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 15.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +12.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +13.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -67.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
15.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+13.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37916

Population: 14,771

💰 Median Household Income
$18,586
This area
$18,586
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
97.1%
This area
97.1%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
47.5%
This area
47.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
20.7 years
This area
20.7 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.7%
Black/African American 7.3%
Other/Mixed 6.8%
Asian 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
1.9%
This area
1.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
0.8%
This area
0.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
74.1%
This area
74.1%
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

🎓 Schools in 37916

D Avg School Grade
1 Schools
53.4:1 Avg Class Size
$11,040 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

D Needs Improvement

Ft Sanders Education Development Center

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
53.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Vine Middle/Magnet

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1807 Martin Luther King Jr AVE, Knoxville
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Green Magnet Math And Science Academy

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 801 Lula Powell DR, Knoxville
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

L N STEM Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 401 Henley ST, Knoxville
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 798 Off-Campus Students
B+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
36,304 students · 0.4 mi
D
The University of Tennessee System Office
0 students · 1.2 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
1,206 students · 1.7 mi
C
South College
8,234 students · 2.3 mi
C
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc
337 students · 3.7 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville
113 students · 7.3 mi
C
Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville
75 students · 9.6 mi
C+
Johnson University
950 students · 10.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 798 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smart move for investors in Knoxville, TN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Knoxville, TN best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $507K price point.

How strong are rents in Knoxville, TN?

Rent in Knoxville, TN is around $1,353/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $507K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the typical home price in Knoxville, TN?

Median home price in Knoxville, TN is near $507K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How high is vacancy risk in Knoxville, TN?

Vacancy in Knoxville, TN is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,353/mo.

Is Knoxville, TN a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Knoxville, TN deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 37916 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 37916 ranks in Knoxville, TN

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