Real Estate Investing in Memphis, Tennessee (38126)

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

Shelby County • Population: 5,723 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38126 (Memphis, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

A balanced market — moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 16.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 45.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $19,844 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Memphis, TN (38126)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $76,399
Avg Monthly Rent $842
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $19,844
% Renters 87.9%

Market Analysis: 38126 Memphis

The 38126 ZIP posts an substantial value-add profile — below-median pricing at $76K, a renter base of 88%, and room for operational improvement.

Investors in 38126 do not buy the market average — they buy the unit they can improve. $76K median pricing and $842/mo comps define the envelope within which the work has to pay.

Relative to TN, 38126 reads as a working-capital ZIP — prices below average, renter share elevated at 88%, and room for operator-led upside.

The 38126 ZIP's demographic trend has been one of stability with upside — population of 5,723, steady renter share, and an incoming cohort that is willing to pay for improved units.

The substantial opportunity in 38126 is buying the worst house on the block, fixing it, and renting it at the top of the local band. That is the strategy, repeated.

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: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $842/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$85K$71K$57K$43K$29K$15KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 38126 Compare?

Metric 38126 Memphis Memphis, TN-MS-AR Tennessee
Home Value $76,399 $150,680 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 2.6% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $842 $1,243 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.6% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38126? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $842/mo on homes averaging $76,399 — 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.

88% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38126 (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
8.6%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $76,399
Monthly Rent $842
Price-to-Rent 7.6:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.2%
Cap Rate 8.6%
5-Year IRR 14.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +12.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.6%) 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
16.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38126

Population: 5,723

💰 Median Household Income
$19,844
This area
$19,844
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
87.9%
This area
87.9%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
27.4 years
This area
27.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 90.8%
White 6.9%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
30.0%
This area
30.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.4%
This area
11.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
45.5%
This area
45.5%
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 38126

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,292 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

B. T. Washington High

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Hollis F. Price Middle College

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
105 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS

📚 K – 08 School
👥
98 Students
👨‍🏫
6.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B Good

Larose Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Compass Community School Midtown Campus

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
📍 61 N. McLean BLVD, Memphis
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Cummings Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 1037 Cummings St, Memphis
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Soulsville Charter School

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
📍 1115 College ST, Memphis
👥
656 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

A. B. Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 345 East Olive AVE, Memphis
👥
544 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
A Very Good

Bruce Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 581 S Bellevue Blvd, Memphis
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 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 620 Off-Campus Students
C
Le Moyne-Owen College
646 students · 0.8 mi
C
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
3,121 students · 1.0 mi
C+
Baptist Health Sciences University
755 students · 1.2 mi
C+
Visible Music College
182 students · 1.3 mi
C
Southern College of Optometry
525 students · 1.6 mi
C
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis
1,691 students · 1.6 mi
C
William R Moore College of Technology
461 students · 1.8 mi
C
Vibe Barber College
63 students · 2.7 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Memphis, TN?

Memphis, TN home values average about $76K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $842/mo in monthly income.

Is Memphis, TN suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Memphis, TN is an attractive. With home values around $76K and rents at $842/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Does BRRRR pencil out in Memphis, TN?

BRRRR works a strong in Memphis, TN. With $76K ARVs and $842/mo rents, investors who buy right can refinance out most of their capital.

Which real estate strategy fits Memphis, TN?

Investors usually favor value-add and BRRRR deals in Memphis, TN. With home values at $76K and rents near $842/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical rental rate in Memphis, TN?

Average rent in Memphis, TN is approximately $842/mo per month. Against $76K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 38126 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38126 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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