Real Estate Investing in Cleveland, Ohio (44103)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 13,776 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44103 (Cleveland, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 27.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.4% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 33.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.8% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Cleveland, OH (44103)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $73,599
Avg Monthly Rent $1,092
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $24,402
% Renters 66.4%

Market Analysis: 44103 Cleveland

Homes in the 44103 ZIP trade near $74K, a discount that has historically rewarded investors willing to renovate. Rent comps near $1,092/mo support the pro forma.

ZIP 44103 favors investors with a contractor on speed dial. From a cash-flow lens, the turnkey yield looks ordinary, a renovated unit pulls stronger rent than the unrenovated $1,092/mo average.

Across Cleveland, pockets like 44103 represent the last affordable rungs of a rising ladder. The state-level data shows those rungs thinning.

Residents in 44103 skew younger than the county average, and that matters for rehab positioning. Younger renters respond to finishes, appliances, and in-unit laundry in ways that move rent.

The sturdy opportunity in 44103 is buying the worst house on the block, fixing it, and renting it at the top of the local band. That is the strategy, repeated.

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 Cleveland:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,092/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
Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.2%
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 Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44103

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
16.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$15,234/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $53,515 $1,070 14.4% +5.0% $26,758
3BR $67,833 $1,380 14.6% +2.1% $22,611
4BR $65,856 $1,470 16.1% +5.7% $16,464
5BR $76,171 +4.8% $15,234

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$126K$108K$90K$72K$55K$37KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,329$1,270$1,211$1,152$1,093$1,034Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44103 Compare?

Metric 44103 Cleveland Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $73,599 $85,662 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 0.4% 3.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,092 $1,306 N/A -
Cap Rate 11.6% 8.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44103? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,092/mo on homes averaging $73,599 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

66% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44103 (Cleveland, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Cuyahoga County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Cleveland Property Management Group is a residential property manager in Northeast Ohio, assisting with property purchase, portfolio analysis, and full-service management. summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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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Aspire Real Estate helps sell homes quickly. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
11.6%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+0.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $73,599
Monthly Rent $1,092
Price-to-Rent 5.6:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 17.8%
Cap Rate 11.6%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 11.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (11.6%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
27.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44103

Population: 13,776

💰 Median Household Income
$24,402
This area
$24,402
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.4%
This area
66.4%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.1%
This area
27.1%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 74.2%
White 15.3%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
33.0%
This area
33.0%
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 44103

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$19,082 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mary B Martin School

📚 Pre-K – 10 High School
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

George Washington Carver

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Wade Park

📚 Pre-K – 09 High School
👥
401 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Horizon Science Acad Cleveland

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,869 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
233 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,108 Per Student
B+ Above Average

University of Cleveland Preparatory School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
164 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,582 Per Student
C Below Average

East Preparatory Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
24.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,759 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Roxboro Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2400 Roxboro Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
566 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1440 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Cleveland High School for the Digital Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1440 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland
👥
314 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Technical High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2439 E 55th St, Cleveland
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Franklin D. Roosevelt

📚 Pre-K – 10 High School
📍 800 Linn Dr, Cleveland
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 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 9,386 Off-Campus Students
C
Ohio Technical College
331 students · 0.7 mi
B
Cleveland Institute of Music
350 students · 1.8 mi
B+
Case Western Reserve University
12,266 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Cleveland State University
14,117 students · 1.9 mi
C+
Cleveland Institute of Art
566 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Cuyahoga Community College District
17,407 students · 2.5 mi
C+
Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College
41 students · 3.9 mi
C
Lakewood University
101 students · 4.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,386 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland, OH median home values land near $74K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,092/mo-per-month rentals.

Is it possible to hit the 1% rule in Cleveland, OH?

Yes, many Cleveland, OH properties clear the 1% rule. The rent-to-price ratio averages 1.48%, supported by $1,092/mo rents.

How much rent can I charge in Cleveland, OH?

Rents in Cleveland, OH run near $1,092/mo. Compared with median home prices of $74K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Are there BRRRR deals in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland, OH is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $1,092/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $74K values.

Does house hacking make sense in Cleveland, OH?

House hacking works an attractive in Cleveland, OH. Rents of $1,092/mo against $74K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 44103 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44103 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

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