Real Estate Investing in Memphis, Tennessee (38106)

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

Shelby County • Population: 21,827 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 38106 (Memphis, TN)? 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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 21.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 30.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.8% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $29,098 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Memphis, TN (38106)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $57,039
Avg Monthly Rent $885
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $29,098
% Renters 62.1%

Market Analysis: 38106 Memphis

In Memphis's 38106 ZIP, the arithmetic favors hands-on owners. Median home values reflects $57K, leaving spread for capex-heavy BRRRR or reposition strategies.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 38106 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

In Shelby County, 38106 is part of the operational map, not the passive one. The spread between median price and renovated comp reflects the work available.

The a viable market for angle on demographics here is renter willingness to pay a premium for renovated product. The 62% rental share provides scale for the strategy.

Value-add plays pencil in 38106 when three things line up: a sub-median purchase, a realistic rehab budget, and a post-rehab rent comp that stands up. All three are present in this ZIP.

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 Memphis:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $885/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
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
68 days
Average time to sell
Slow
10.0%
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 38106

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
17.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$17,964/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $42,734 $1,040 17.5% +8.5% $42,734
2BR $47,506 $1,150 17.4% +9.6% $23,753
3BR $63,382 $1,520 17.3% +9.8% $21,127
4BR $77,390 $1,770 16.5% +9.9% $19,347
5BR $89,818 +8.6% $17,964

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$65K$55K$44K$34K$23K$13KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$942$894$846$798$750$702Oct 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38106 Compare?

Metric 38106 Memphis Memphis, TN-MS-AR Tennessee
Home Value $57,039 $150,680 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 2.8% 2.6% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $885 $1,243 N/A -
Cap Rate 12.1% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38106? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $885/mo on homes averaging $57,039 — 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.

62% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38106 (Memphis, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 38106 (Memphis, TN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Shelby County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Advantage Property Management offers property management services in Memphis, TN, and surrounding areas, including Section 8 property management, maintenance, and renovations. summary from their website

Section 8
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Enterprise Property Management offers property management services in Memphis. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Foundation Property Management offers property management services in Memphis, TN. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
12.1%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+2.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $57,039
Monthly Rent $885
Price-to-Rent 5.4:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 18.6%
Cap Rate 12.1%
5-Year IRR 14.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 12.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (12.1%) 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
21.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38106

Population: 21,827

💰 Median Household Income
$29,098
This area
$29,098
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
62.1%
This area
62.1%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.9 years
This area
41.9 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 96.2%
White 2.3%
Other/Mixed 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
30.1%
This area
30.1%
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 38106

B Avg School Grade
16 Schools
16.9:1 Avg Class Size
$15,292 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cummings Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Soulsville Charter School

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
656 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

A. B. Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
544 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Believe Memphis Academy Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Memphis Delta Preparatory

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hamilton School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
654 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

City University School Of Liberal Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
201 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Veritas College Preparatory

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
135 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Hamilton High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
647 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Memphis College Preparatory

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
239 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Circles Of Success Learning Academy

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
217 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C+ Average

Ernestine Rivers Child Care Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C+ Average

Jessie Mahan Day Care Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C+ Average

The Excel Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
39.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C Below Average

Memphis Scholars Florida Kansas

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter Limited Data
👥
121 Students
C Below Average

Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter Limited Data
👥
63 Students
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 620 Off-Campus Students
C
Le Moyne-Owen College
646 students · 1.3 mi
C
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
3,121 students · 2.6 mi
C+
Baptist Health Sciences University
755 students · 2.7 mi
C
Southern College of Optometry
525 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Visible Music College
182 students · 3.1 mi
C
William R Moore College of Technology
461 students · 3.2 mi
F
Remington College-Memphis Campus
391 students · 3.4 mi
C
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis
1,691 students · 3.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 620 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN median home values land near $57K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $885/mo-per-month rentals.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN investors pursuing value-add and BRRRR deals. The underlying economics ($57K prices, $885/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are 1% rule properties available in Memphis, TN?

With rents of $885/mo on $57K homes, Memphis, TN close to the 1% rule for most properties. The actual rent-to-price ratio is 1.55%.

How strong is Memphis, TN for real estate investors?

Memphis, TN scores 5.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $57K and rents near $885/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can you recycle capital via BRRRR in Memphis, TN?

Yes - BRRRR is a strong in Memphis, TN. The $57K home values and $885/mo rents anchor the refinance math.

You know 38106 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38106 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.

Compare Plans

How 38106 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 38106 (Memphis)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 38106 (Memphis, TN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.