Real Estate Investing in Lexington, Kentucky (40515)

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

Fayette County • Population: 36,787 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40515 (Lexington, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lexington, KY (40515)?

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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 $385,245
Avg Monthly Rent $1,555
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,280
% Renters 38.8%

Market Analysis: 40515 Lexington

The 40515 ZIP in Lexington, KY is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $385K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,555/mo on a $385K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 40515 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 40515 sits on the difficult end of the KY spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 40515 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 40515 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 Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,555/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
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 40515

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$106,857/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $218,247 $1,540 5.1% +9.7% $109,123
3BR $320,570 $2,110 4.7% +8.6% $106,857
4BR $467,689 $2,350 3.6% +8.1% $116,922
5BR $630,086 +8.2% $126,017

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$404K$354K$303K$253K$202K$152KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,652$1,502$1,353$1,203$1,053$904Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40515 Compare?

Metric 40515 Lexington Lexington-Fayette, KY Kentucky
Home Value $385,245 $342,797 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.9% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $1,555 $1,627 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40515? 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 40515 (Lexington, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $385,245
Monthly Rent $1,555
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
5.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40515

Population: 36,787

💰 Median Household Income
$84,280
This area
$84,280
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.8%
This area
38.8%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.3%
This area
52.3%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.2 years
This area
37.2 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.3%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Black/African American 7.7%
Asian 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.5%
This area
13.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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 40515

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.6:1 Avg Class Size
$17,525 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Squires Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Veterans Park Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
697 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$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+
Kentucky Horseshoeing School
24 students · 5.1 mi
C
Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education
200 students · 5.7 mi
D
Summit Salon Academy-Lexington
123 students · 7.8 mi
D
Lexington Theological Seminary
93 students · 8.0 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
204 students · 8.4 mi
C
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
11,619 students · 8.7 mi
D
Lexington Healing Arts Academy
89 students · 8.7 mi
B
University of Kentucky
32,703 students · 9.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lexington, KY?

Expect median prices around $385K in Lexington, KY. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been predictable.

Is Lexington, KY landlord-friendly?

KY ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Lexington generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is the tenant base reliable in Lexington, KY?

The renter base in Lexington, KY is reasonable for the $1,555/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Lexington, KY?

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

Is Lexington, KY a good market for FHA house hackers?

Lexington, KY is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $385K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 40515 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 40515 ranks in Lexington-Fayette, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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