Real Estate Investing in Kelleys Island, Ohio (43438)

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

Erie County • Population: 198 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 43438 (Kelleys Island, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 88.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.7% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 36.5 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Kelleys Island, OH (43438)?

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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 $437,123
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,375
% Renters 5.1%

Market Analysis: 43438 Kelleys Island

The 43438 ZIP covers a section of Kelleys Island that demands careful diligence. Prices near $437K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $437K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 43438 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader OH picture, 43438 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The demographic picture in 43438 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Kelleys Island averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Kelleys Island's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 43438. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Kelleys Island:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/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
Sandusky, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.1%
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 Sandusky, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 43438

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$150,538/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $363,548 $1,110 2.2% +8.9% $181,774
3BR $451,613 $1,390 2.2% +9.0% $150,538

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$457K$399K$340K$281K$222K$164KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 43438 Compare?

Metric 43438 Kelleys Island Sandusky, OH Ohio
Home Value $437,123 $437,123 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 43438? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 43438 (Kelleys Island, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Sandusky, OH metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
51%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $437,123
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 36.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
88.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 43438

Population: 198

💰 Median Household Income
$74,375
This area
$74,375
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.1%
This area
43.1%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
65.3 years
This area
65.3 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
88.1%
This area
88.1%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.1%
Other/Mixed 0.9%
👶 Under 18
1.8%
This area
1.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
50.7%
This area
50.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
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 43438

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
$125,800 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Kelleys Island Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Limited Data
💰
$125,800 Per Student
B Good

Kelleys Island High School

📚 01 – 08 School Limited Data
👥
7 Students
💰
$125,800 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

3 Nearby
C
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
71 students · 11.5 mi
C
Sandusky Career Center
81 students · 11.7 mi
C
Ohio Business College-Sandusky
24 students · 13.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is house hacking profitable in Kelleys Island, OH?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Kelleys Island, OH reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Are there empty rentals in Kelleys Island, OH?

Vacancy risk in Kelleys Island, OH is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is Kelleys Island, OH a friendly market for rental owners?

Kelleys Island, OH operates under OH law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Are rents high in Kelleys Island, OH?

Average rent in Kelleys Island, OH is approximately $999/mo per month. Against $437K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the renter demographic in Kelleys Island, OH?

The renter base in Kelleys Island, OH is reasonable for the $999/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

You know 43438 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 43438 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 43438 ranks in Sandusky, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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