Real Estate Investing in Rickman, Tennessee (38580)

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

Overton County • Population: 1,628 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 38580 (Rickman, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Rickman, TN (38580)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $305,172
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,023
% Renters 15.1%

Market Analysis: 38580 Rickman

ZIP 38580 inside Overton County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $305K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $305K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 38580 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In practical terms, 38580 offers a low basis, the region around Rickman has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A significant renter share of 15% in 38580 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 38580 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Rickman:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Cookeville, TN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.5%
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 Cookeville, TN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$325K$280K$235K$190K$145K$100KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38580 Compare?

Metric 38580 Rickman Cookeville, TN Tennessee
Home Value $305,172 $305,172 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38580? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38580 (Rickman, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 38580 (Rickman, TN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cookeville, TN metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
76%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $305,172
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 30.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
13.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38580

Population: 1,628

💰 Median Household Income
$71,023
This area
$71,023
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.3 years
This area
38.3 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.9%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
👶 Under 18
27.3%
This area
27.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
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 38580

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$12,058 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Rickman Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
712 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,058 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

5 Nearby 1,476 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston
1,093 students · 8.3 mi
D
Genesis Career College-Cookeville
329 students · 12.7 mi
C+
Tennessee Technological University
10,117 students · 13.6 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Cookeville
301 students · 13.8 mi
D
Mr Wayne's School of Unisex Hair Design
22 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,476 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Rickman, TN?

House hacking works a challenging in Rickman, TN. Rents of $837/mo against $305K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How strong is Rickman, TN for real estate investors?

Our data puts Rickman, TN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $305K and rents around $837/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the typical home price in Rickman, TN?

The median home value in Rickman, TN is roughly $305K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TN statewide average.

Does Rickman, TN favor landlords or tenants?

Rickman, TN falls under TN landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Rickman, TN?

Rickman, TN carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $837/mo.

You know 38580 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38580 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.

Compare Plans

How 38580 ranks in Cookeville, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 38580 (Rickman)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 38580 (Rickman, TN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.