Real Estate Investing in Columbus, Ohio (43206)

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

Franklin County • Population: 22,026 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 43206 (Columbus, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.9% CAGR).

What’s happening in Columbus, OH (43206)?

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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 $276,730
Avg Monthly Rent $1,735
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,853
% Renters 52.6%

Market Analysis: 43206 Columbus

The 43206 ZIP in Columbus, OH is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $277K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 43206 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 43206 and stronger Columbus ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 43206 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 43206 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 Columbus:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,735/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Columbus, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
32 days
Average time to sell
Average
14.2%
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 Columbus, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 43206

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+6.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$76,596/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $299,484 $1,210 2.9% +6.7% $299,484
2BR $291,043 $1,450 3.6% +4.2% $145,521
3BR $250,650 $1,740 5.0% +3.8% $83,550
4BR $306,382 $1,950 4.6% +4.4% $76,596

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$304K$259K$214K$169K$124K$79KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,813$1,587$1,362$1,136$911$686Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 43206 Compare?

Metric 43206 Columbus Columbus, OH Ohio
Home Value $276,730 $168,924 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 0.9% 3.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,735 $1,426 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 43206? Click to expand

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

53% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 43206 (Columbus, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Franklin County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Associa RPM provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services in the greater Columbus, Dublin, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas of Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Heart & Home Property Management offers services for single-family homes and multi-family properties in Columbus, including rentals and owner support. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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SBS Property Management provides management, maintenance, inspections, finances, and communications for Condominium and Homeowner Associations across Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.9%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Columbus, OH metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
0/2
32 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $276,730
Monthly Rent $1,735
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
11.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 43206

Population: 22,026

💰 Median Household Income
$68,853
This area
$68,853
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.6%
This area
52.6%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.3%
This area
46.3%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.0 years
This area
34.0 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.2%
Black/African American 35.0%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
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 43206

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
20.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,751 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

South High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Siebert Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stewart Alternative Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
281 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,703 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Champion Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 284 N 22nd St, Columbus
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fort Hayes Career Center

📚 10 – 12 High School
📍 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd, Columbus
👥
110 Students
👨‍🏫
3.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1390 Bryden Rd, Columbus
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Montrose Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2555 E Main St, Bexley
👥
330 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,225 Per Student
A Very Good

Arts Impact Middle School (Aims)

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 680 Jack Gibbs Blvd, Columbus
👥
511 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 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 9,181 Off-Campus Students
C
Franklin University
8,697 students · 1.4 mi
C
Columbus College of Art & Design
918 students · 1.9 mi
C
Columbus State Community College
26,663 students · 2.0 mi
C+
Capital University
2,388 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
712 students · 2.7 mi
C
Ohio Dominican University
1,258 students · 3.9 mi
B+
Ohio State University-Main Campus
60,046 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Adult and Community Education-Hudson
37 students · 4.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,181 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I live-in-and-rent in Columbus, OH?

Columbus, OH is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $277K price point reasonable to enter.

What are rental rates like in Columbus, OH?

Columbus, OH rentals go for roughly $1,735/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $277K acquisition costs.

Are renters plentiful in Columbus, OH?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Columbus, OH. The rental market absorbs $1,735/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Columbus, OH?

The landlord environment in Columbus, OH is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the typical home price in Columbus, OH?

The median home value in Columbus, OH is roughly $277K. That puts it reasonable relative to the OH statewide average.

You know 43206 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 43206 ranks in Columbus, OH

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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