Real Estate Investing in Germantown, Tennessee (38139)

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

Shelby County • Population: 16,298 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38139 (Germantown, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Germantown, TN (38139)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $596,741
Avg Monthly Rent $3,263
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $174,396
% Renters 2.9%

Market Analysis: 38139 Germantown

Investors eyeing 38139 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $597K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 38139 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Germantown have seen price recovery that 38139 has not matched. Shelby County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Put differently, 16,298 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.

New investors are better served looking at Germantown's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 38139. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Germantown:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,263/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 38139

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$139,709/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $279,418 $1,910 4.9% +4.2% $139,709
3BR $425,208 $2,520 4.3% +5.1% $141,736
4BR $561,974 $2,940 3.8% +5.5% $140,494
5BR $802,684 +5.5% $160,537

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$627K$560K$492K$425K$357K$290KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,519$3,464$3,409$3,354$3,299$3,244Apr 2026May 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 38139 Compare?

Metric 38139 Germantown Memphis, TN-MS-AR Tennessee
Home Value $596,741 $518,447 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 3.4% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $3,263 $2,802 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38139? Click to expand

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

📊 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 38139 (Germantown, 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
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $596,741
Monthly Rent $3,263
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
2.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38139

Population: 16,298

💰 Median Household Income
$174,396
This area
$174,396
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.1%
This area
72.1%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.8 years
This area
44.8 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.9%
Asian 7.2%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Black/African American 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
👶 Under 18
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
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 38139

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,176 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Dogwood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
647 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Houston Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
886 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 Per Student
B Good

Houston High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,932 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Farmington Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2085 Cordes RD, Germantown
👥
645 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 Per Student
A Very Good

Forest Hill Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3366 Forest Hill Irene RD, Germantown
👥
689 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 Per Student
A Very Good

Germantown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2730 Cross Country Dr, Germantown
👥
558 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Germantown Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 7925 CD Smith Rd, Germantown
👥
637 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,292 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Germantown Online Academy of Learning

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 3350 S. Forest Hill Irene RD, Germantown
👥
65 Students
👨‍🏫
3.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,176 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 2,387 Off-Campus Students
C+
Gould's Academy
164 students · 6.0 mi
D
Concorde Career College-Memphis
420 students · 7.9 mi
C
Southwest Tennessee Community College
6,980 students · 8.1 mi
F
Strayer University-Tennessee
2,920 students · 8.2 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-E Memphis
216 students · 8.5 mi
C+
Gould's Academy
177 students · 8.6 mi
B
Mid-South Christian College
32 students · 9.0 mi
C
Health-Tech Institute of Memphis
4 students · 10.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,387 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Germantown, TN?

In Germantown, TN the median home value sits at $597K. Against the broader TN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Germantown, TN a smart market for rental property?

Our data puts Germantown, TN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $597K and rents around $3,263/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Germantown, TN?

Germantown, TN is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $597K price point reasonable to enter.

How landlord-friendly is Germantown, TN?

For rental operators, Germantown, TN rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How high is vacancy risk in Germantown, TN?

Germantown, TN vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 38139 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38139 ranks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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