Real Estate Investing in Lexington, Kentucky (40505)

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

Fayette County • Population: 25,855 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40505 (Lexington, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lexington, KY (40505)?

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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 $232,561
Avg Monthly Rent $1,307
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,957
% Renters 38.8%

Market Analysis: 40505 Lexington

Investors eyeing 40505 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $233K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 40505 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 40505 among KY's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 40505 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 40505 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Lexington:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,307/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
46 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.8%
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 40505

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$65,205/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $178,953 $1,110 4.5% +10.7% $89,476
3BR $238,085 $1,520 4.6% +9.6% $79,362
4BR $260,820 $1,690 4.7% +8.8% $65,205
5BR $331,359 +8.0% $66,272

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$246K$214K$182K$150K$118K$85KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,422$1,277$1,132$987$843$698Sep 2017Mar 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40505 Compare?

Metric 40505 Lexington Lexington-Fayette, KY Kentucky
Home Value $232,561 $342,797 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 6.9% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $1,307 $1,627 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40505? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 40505 (Lexington, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $232,561
Monthly Rent $1,307
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40505

Population: 25,855

💰 Median Household Income
$56,957
This area
$56,957
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.8%
This area
38.8%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.6%
Black/African American 19.2%
Other/Mixed 8.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
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 40505

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,525 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Arlington Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Crawford Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
720 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Deep Springs Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
529 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mary Todd Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northern Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bryan Station Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
720 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dixie Elementary Magnet School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
587 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Yates Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A Very Good

Martin L King Acad for Excellence Alt

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
B Good

Bryan Station High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,025 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
B Good

Eastside Technical Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$17,525 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 8,337 Off-Campus Students
C+
Transylvania University
1,022 students · 2.0 mi
D
Summit Salon Academy-Lexington
123 students · 2.2 mi
B
University of Kentucky
32,703 students · 3.0 mi
C
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
11,619 students · 3.5 mi
D
Lexington Healing Arts Academy
89 students · 4.8 mi
C
Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education
200 students · 5.6 mi
D
Lexington Theological Seminary
93 students · 5.8 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
204 students · 7.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,337 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Lexington, KY?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Lexington, KY. The numbers - $233K homes against $1,307/mo rents - support that play.

How strong is the working-renter base in Lexington, KY?

Tenant quality in Lexington, KY ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $1,307/mo.

What price range are homes in Lexington, KY?

In Lexington, KY the median home value sits at $233K. Against the broader KY market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Lexington, KY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Lexington, KY. Rents at $1,307/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is rental property easy to operate in Lexington, KY?

KY law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Lexington inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 40505 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 40505 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 40505 ranks in Lexington-Fayette, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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