Real Estate Investing in Obion, Tennessee (38240)

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

Obion County • Population: 1,760 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38240 (Obion, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

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

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Obion, TN (38240)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $163,150
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,750
% Renters 31.6%

Market Analysis: 38240 Obion

ZIP 38240 inside Obion County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $163K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 38240 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

From an investor standpoint, 38240 offers a low basis, the region around Obion has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 38240 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Obion:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Union City, TN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.0%
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 Union City, TN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$170K$150K$130K$109K$89K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38240 Compare?

Metric 38240 Obion Union City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $163,150 $163,150 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38240? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38240 (Obion, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Union City, TN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $163,150
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 13.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
14.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38240

Population: 1,760

💰 Median Household Income
$53,750
This area
$53,750
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.3 years
This area
48.3 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.4%
Other/Mixed 7.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.6%
Black/African American 4.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.6%
This area
17.6%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 3,169 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
2,302 students · 9.7 mi
C
Dyersburg State Community College
3,143 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,169 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Obion, TN rate as a rental market?

Obion, TN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $163K and rents near $1,008/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is TN a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Obion, TN is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What do rentals go for in Obion, TN?

Rental rates in Obion, TN average $1,008/mo. Tenant demand and $163K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Obion, TN?

For house hackers, Obion, TN is a challenging. The $1,008/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $163K property.

What strategy should investors use in Obion, TN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Obion, TN best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $163K price point.

You know 38240 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38240 ranks in Union City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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