Real Estate Investing in Memphis, Tennessee (38109)

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

Shelby County • Population: 43,764 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38109 (Memphis, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.9% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 24.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Memphis, TN (38109)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $91,802
Avg Monthly Rent $1,162
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $35,018
% Renters 44.8%

Market Analysis: 38109 Memphis

ZIP 38109 inside Memphis, TN leans into a value-add thesis. Home values near $92K sit below the state median, and rents of $1,162/mo leave room for forced-equity plays.

The an appealing option for angle here is forced equity, not market equity. ZIP 38109 rewards investors who can execute on scope, timeline, and tenant turnover.

The a strong candidate for piece of regional context is that nearby ZIPs with newer stock and higher basis have priced out of the value-add game. 38109 has not.

Looking more closely, incomes in 38109 sit below the county median, the tenant pool is deep and the demand for upgraded rental stock consistently outruns supply.

BRRRR is the most natural fit. Buy under $92K, rehab, refinance, and the capital recycles in a way turnkey markets cannot replicate.

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: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,162/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 38109

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
14.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$27,605/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $55,210 $1,080 14.1% +10.9% $27,605
3BR $95,938 $1,430 10.7% +6.1% $31,979
4BR $118,098 $1,660 10.1% +6.0% $29,524
5BR $153,938 +4.4% $30,788

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$106K$90K$73K$57K$41K$24KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,188$1,124$1,060$995$931$867Oct 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38109 Compare?

Metric 38109 Memphis Memphis, TN-MS-AR Tennessee
Home Value $91,802 $150,680 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 1.5% 2.6% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,162 $1,243 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.9% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38109? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,162/mo on homes averaging $91,802 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

A healthy rental market with 45% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 38109 (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
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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
9.9%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+1.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $91,802
Monthly Rent $1,162
Price-to-Rent 6.6:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 15.2%
Cap Rate 9.9%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.9%) 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
12.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38109

Population: 43,764

💰 Median Household Income
$35,018
This area
$35,018
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.8%
This area
44.8%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.2%
This area
13.2%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.5 years
This area
39.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.0%
This area
12.0%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 95.2%
White 2.7%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
24.4%
This area
24.4%
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 38109

B+ Avg School Grade
17 Schools
16.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,292 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good
👥
711 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Double Tree Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

J. P. Freeman Elementary/Middle

📚 K – 08 School
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Freedom Prep Elementary - Parkrose

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Vision Preparatory Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
415 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ford Road Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
539 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Geeter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
610 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Levi Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mitchell High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Westhaven Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
746 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Westwood High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Freedom Preparatory Academy Flagship

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
723 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Chickasaw Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
24.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Riverview Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
24.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C+ Average

Horn Lake Road Learning Center

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

Southwest Career Technology Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$15,292 Per Student
C Below Average

Fairley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
23.4:1 Class Size
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 331 Off-Campus Students
C
Le Moyne-Owen College
646 students · 8.2 mi
F
Remington College-Memphis Campus
391 students · 8.6 mi
C+
Visible Music College
182 students · 9.0 mi
C+
Arkansas State University Mid-South
1,021 students · 9.2 mi
D
Concorde Career College-Southaven
114 students · 9.2 mi
C
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
3,121 students · 9.3 mi
C
Delta Technical College-Mississippi
2,320 students · 9.4 mi
C+
Baptist Health Sciences University
755 students · 9.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Memphis, TN?

The median home value in Memphis, TN is roughly $92K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TN statewide average.

Is Memphis, TN a viable BRRRR market?

Yes - BRRRR is a strong in Memphis, TN. The $92K home values and $1,162/mo rents anchor the refinance math.

Does the 1% rule work in Memphis, TN?

Yes, many Memphis, TN properties clear the 1% rule. The rent-to-price ratio averages 1.27%, supported by $1,162/mo rents.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN rentals go for roughly $1,162/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $92K acquisition costs.

Is Memphis, TN suited for a house hack?

House hacking works an attractive in Memphis, TN. Rents of $1,162/mo against $92K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 38109 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38109 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 38109 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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