Real Estate Investing in Big Clifty, Kentucky (42712)

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

Grayson County • Population: 1,787 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 42712 (Big Clifty, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 20.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.5% CAGR).
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 5.3% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in Big Clifty, KY (42712)?

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

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $168,248
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,605
% Renters 17.2%

Market Analysis: 42712 Big Clifty

ZIP 42712 in Big Clifty, KY carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $168K and rents of $873/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $168K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 42712 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 42712 and stronger Big Clifty ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A significant renter share of 17% in 42712 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. impressive returns are possible in 42712, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Big Clifty:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.4%
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 Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$200K$170K$140K$110K$80K$51KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42712 Compare?

Metric 42712 Big Clifty Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Kentucky
Home Value $168,248 $168,248 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 1.5% 1.5% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42712? 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 42712 (Big Clifty, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 42712 (Big Clifty, KY)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $168,248
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 5.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -5.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
20.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42712

Population: 1,787

💰 Median Household Income
$44,605
This area
$44,605
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.3%
This area
10.3%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.2 years
This area
45.2 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.6%
Other/Mixed 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
👶 Under 18
10.3%
This area
10.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.5%
This area
16.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Big Clifty, KY?

Rents in Big Clifty, KY run near $873/mo. Compared with median home prices of $168K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Where do home prices stand in Big Clifty, KY?

Big Clifty, KY home values average about $168K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $873/mo in monthly income.

Is vacancy a concern in Big Clifty, KY?

Rental vacancy in Big Clifty, KY is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Which investment style suits Big Clifty, KY?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Big Clifty, KY best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $168K price point.

How strong is Big Clifty, KY for real estate investors?

Big Clifty, KY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $168K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 42712 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42712 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 42712 ranks in Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 42712 (Big Clifty)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 42712 (Big Clifty, KY).

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