Real Estate Investing in Memphis, Tennessee (38108)

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

Shelby County • Population: 18,501 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 38108 (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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 29.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $29,757 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Memphis, TN (38108)?

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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 $70,295
Avg Monthly Rent $992
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $29,757
% Renters 58.2%

Market Analysis: 38108 Memphis

ZIP 38108 offers what many appreciation markets cannot: an affordable basis at $70K and rent support of $992/mo for rehab-driven equity creation in Shelby County.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 38108 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

In Shelby County, 38108 is part of the operational map, not the passive one. The spread between median price and renovated comp reflects the work available.

A renter-heavy, wage-earner demographic anchors 38108. Value-add players rely on that mix — the 58% share is both the tenant source and the buyer pool for future owner-occupied exits.

The strategy in 38108 is forced equity, not market equity. Put differently, entry prices are accommodating at $70K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $992/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 38108

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
13.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$21,313/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $57,680 $1,060 13.2% +7.0% $28,840
3BR $83,379 $1,390 12.0% +8.6% $27,793
4BR $85,251 $1,620 13.7% +5.8% $21,313

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$82K$69K$56K$43K$31K$18KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,004$971$937$904$870$837Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38108 Compare?

Metric 38108 Memphis Memphis, TN-MS-AR Tennessee
Home Value $70,295 $150,680 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 2.7% 2.6% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $992 $1,243 N/A -
Cap Rate 11.0% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38108? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $992/mo on homes averaging $70,295 — 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.

58% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38108 (Memphis, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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

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

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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
Excellent
Cap Rate
11.0%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+2.7%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $70,295
Monthly Rent $992
Price-to-Rent 5.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 16.9%
Cap Rate 11.0%
5-Year IRR 13.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +9.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 11.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (11.0%) 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
17.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38108

Population: 18,501

💰 Median Household Income
$29,757
This area
$29,757
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
58.2%
This area
58.2%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.4 years
This area
35.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 60.2%
White 22.7%
Other/Mixed 17.2%
Hispanic/Latino 15.4%
👶 Under 18
26.6%
This area
26.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
29.0%
This area
29.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 38108

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,292 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

KIPP Memphis Collegiate High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Jackson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Kingsbury Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
513 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Wells Station Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
633 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Springdale Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Douglass Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Oakhaven Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Star Academy

📚 K – 06 School Charter
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Douglass High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
671 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Promise Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 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
B
Rhodes College
1,952 students · 2.1 mi
C
Memphis Theological Seminary
195 students · 3.2 mi
C+
Massage Institute of Memphis
20 students · 3.3 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis
189 students · 3.3 mi
C
Christian Brothers University
2,043 students · 3.6 mi
C
William R Moore College of Technology
461 students · 3.9 mi
C
Southern College of Optometry
525 students · 4.1 mi
C
Vibe Barber College
63 students · 4.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Memphis, TN?

The median home value in Memphis, TN is roughly $70K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TN statewide average.

What is the typical rental rate in Memphis, TN?

Investors in Memphis, TN typically see rents near $992/mo per month against $70K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Do properties in Memphis, TN satisfy the 1% rule?

The 1% rule is solid territory for Memphis, TN. Rent-to-price at the median is 1.41%, putting many properties within striking distance.

Does BRRRR pencil out in Memphis, TN?

Yes - BRRRR is a strong in Memphis, TN. The $70K home values and $992/mo rents anchor the refinance math.

How should investors approach Memphis, TN?

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

You know 38108 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38108 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 38108 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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