Real Estate Investing in South Fulton, Tennessee (38257)

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

Obion County • Population: 4,205 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38257 (South Fulton, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

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

📈 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: 15.4% 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 South Fulton, TN (38257)?

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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 $158,907
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,170
% Renters 30.2%

Market Analysis: 38257 South Fulton

Investors eyeing 38257 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $159K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 38257 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader TN picture, 38257 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 38257 ZIP's population of 4,205 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at South Fulton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 38257. 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 South Fulton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/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)

$166K$146K$125K$105K$84K$64KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38257 Compare?

Metric 38257 South Fulton Union City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $158,907 $158,907 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38257? 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 38257 (South Fulton, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.8%
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 $158,907
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 15.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 12.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
15.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38257

Population: 4,205

💰 Median Household Income
$54,170
This area
$54,170
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.9%
This area
18.9%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.4 years
This area
46.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.4%
This area
15.4%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.4%
Black/African American 8.4%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
20.1%
This area
20.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.5%
This area
12.5%
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 38257

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$13,361 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

South Fulton Middle / High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,361 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Fulton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
315 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,361 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

1 Nearby 527 Off-Campus Students
C+
The University of Tennessee-Martin
6,941 students · 8.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 527 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in South Fulton, TN?

South Fulton, TN home values average about $159K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $864/mo in monthly income.

Does South Fulton, TN favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in South Fulton, TN deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What is the average monthly rent in South Fulton, TN?

Expect rents around $864/mo per month in South Fulton, TN. With home values at $159K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is house hacking profitable in South Fulton, TN?

House hacking in South Fulton, TN is reasonable to execute. Prices around $159K and rents of $864/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Are tenants stable in South Fulton, TN?

Working renters make up the core of the South Fulton, TN tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 38257 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38257 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 38257 ranks in Union City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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