Real Estate Investing in Cleveland, Ohio (44104)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 19,716 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44104 (Cleveland, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 50.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 11.3% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $21,333 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Cleveland, OH (44104)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $77,863
Avg Monthly Rent $1,092
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $21,333
% Renters 74.1%

Market Analysis: 44104 Cleveland

The 44104 ZIP posts an sturdy value-add profile — below-median pricing at $78K, a renter base of 74%, and room for operational improvement.

ZIP 44104 favors investors with a contractor on speed dial. From an investor standpoint, the turnkey yield looks ordinary, a renovated unit pulls stronger rent than the unrenovated $1,092/mo average.

Across Cleveland, pockets like 44104 represent the last affordable rungs of a rising ladder. The state-level data shows those rungs thinning.

Household income in 44104 supports the rent-lift thesis. 19,716 residents, deep working-age cohort, and the kind of tenant profile that responds to upgraded stock.

Experienced operators with contractor networks find 44104 worth a close look for. First-time flippers often underestimate scope, budget, and timeline, which is how deals here turn sour.

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: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
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 44104

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
12.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$18,918/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $57,119 $980 12.4% +10.4% $28,559
3BR $70,351 $1,260 12.9% +5.6% $23,450
4BR $75,673 $1,350 12.8% +6.8% $18,918

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$197K$163K$128K$93K$58K$23KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,271$1,225$1,179$1,134$1,088$1,042Jan 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44104 Compare?

Metric 44104 Cleveland Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $77,863 $85,662 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,092 $1,306 N/A -
Cap Rate 10.9% 8.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44104? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,092/mo on homes averaging $77,863 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

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

74% 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 44104 (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

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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
Excellent
Cap Rate
10.9%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $77,863
Monthly Rent $1,092
Price-to-Rent 5.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 16.8%
Cap Rate 10.9%
5-Year IRR 14.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 10.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (10.9%) 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
14.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44104

Population: 19,716

💰 Median Household Income
$21,333
This area
$21,333
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
74.1%
This area
74.1%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.9 years
This area
32.9 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 93.9%
White 2.9%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
28.8%
This area
28.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
50.4%
This area
50.4%
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 44104

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,123 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

East Technical High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Dike School of Arts

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Alfred Benesch

📚 K – 08 School
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Anton Grdina

📚 Pre-K – 09 High School
👥
294 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
B Good

Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,679 Per Student
C Below Average

Intergenerational School The

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
29.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,716 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

Cleveland Metro Remote School K-12

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 3817 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland
👥
725 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John Adams College & Career Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3817 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland
👥
450 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sunbeam

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 11731 Mount Overlook Ave, Cleveland
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodbury Elementary School

📚 05 – 06 School
📍 15400 S Woodland Rd, Shaker Heights
👥
642 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 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
B+
Case Western Reserve University
12,266 students · 2.0 mi
B
Cleveland Institute of Music
350 students · 2.3 mi
C+
Cleveland Institute of Art
566 students · 2.3 mi
C+
Cleveland State University
14,117 students · 2.8 mi
C
Ohio Technical College
331 students · 2.9 mi
C+
Cuyahoga Community College District
17,407 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College
41 students · 4.0 mi
C
Lakewood University
101 students · 4.7 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Cleveland, OH?

Investors usually favor value-add and BRRRR deals in Cleveland, OH. With home values at $78K and rents near $1,092/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical rental rate in Cleveland, OH?

Investors in Cleveland, OH typically see rents near $1,092/mo per month against $78K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Can investors hit the 1% rule in Cleveland, OH?

The 1% rule in Cleveland, OH is reasonable to achieve. Rent-to-price at the median ($1,092/mo on $78K) lands around 1.40%.

Is Cleveland, OH a good market for FHA house hackers?

Cleveland, OH is a an attractive market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $78K price point reasonable to enter.

What price range are homes in Cleveland, OH?

Median home price in Cleveland, OH is near $78K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

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How 44104 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

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