Real Estate Investing in University Heights, Ohio (44118)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 40,389 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44118 (University Heights, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in University Heights, OH (44118)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $251,314
Avg Monthly Rent $1,505
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,361
% Renters 38.5%

Market Analysis: 44118 University Heights

Investors eyeing 44118 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $251K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $251K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 44118 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within OH, ZIP 44118 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cuyahoga County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 44118 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 44118 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 University Heights:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,505/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
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 44118

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
14.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
1BR
$62,653/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $62,653 $1,230 14.1% +9.2% $62,653
2BR $144,284 $1,490 7.4% +8.7% $72,142
3BR $217,054 $1,920 6.4% +8.7% $72,351
4BR $274,210 $2,050 5.4% +8.5% $68,552
5BR $352,275 +8.2% $70,455

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$266K$232K$198K$164K$130K$96KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,597$1,436$1,275$1,115$954$793Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44118 Compare?

Metric 44118 University Heights Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $251,314 $251,314 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,505 $1,505 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44118? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 44118 (University Heights, 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
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $251,314
Monthly Rent $1,505
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44118

Population: 40,389

💰 Median Household Income
$73,361
This area
$73,361
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.5%
This area
38.5%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
59.7%
This area
59.7%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.8 years
This area
33.8 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.7%
Black/African American 35.8%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Asian 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
👶 Under 18
23.0%
This area
23.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
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 44118

A Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$24,456 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Canterbury Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fairfax Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gearity Professional Development School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Boulevard Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cleveland Heights High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,636 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
B Good

Tiger Virtual Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
44 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Monticello Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 3665 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
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

Shaw High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 15320 Euclid Ave, East Cleveland
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$35,708 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rowland Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 4300 Bayard Rd, South Euclid
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,455 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
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
C+
John Carroll University
2,773 students · 1.5 mi
C
Lakewood University
101 students · 2.0 mi
C
Notre Dame College
1,446 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Cleveland Institute of Art
566 students · 2.5 mi
B+
Case Western Reserve University
12,266 students · 2.8 mi
B
Cleveland Institute of Music
350 students · 2.8 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
84 students · 4.1 mi
C
Ursuline College
923 students · 4.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in University Heights, OH?

Expect rents around $1,505/mo per month in University Heights, OH. With home values at $251K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Are landlord laws favorable in University Heights, OH?

University Heights, OH falls under OH landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Should investors worry about vacancy in University Heights, OH?

University Heights, OH carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,505/mo.

Is the tenant base reliable in University Heights, OH?

University Heights, OH offers a steady renter base at the $1,505/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What approach is best for University Heights, OH real estate?

For University Heights, OH, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 44118 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44118 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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