Real Estate Investing in Bedford, Ohio (44146)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 29,474 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44146 (Bedford, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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: 8.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Bedford, OH (44146)?

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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 $185,087
Avg Monthly Rent $1,066
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,938
% Renters 45.7%

Market Analysis: 44146 Bedford

This part of Cuyahoga County is not an easy win. The 44146 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 44146 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $185K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Bedford have seen price recovery that 44146 has not matched. Cuyahoga County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

From an investor standpoint, 29,474 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 44146 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $185K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Bedford:

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 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,066/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 44146

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$50,031/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $123,222 $1,240 7.2% +10.3% $61,611
3BR $179,765 $1,600 6.4% +8.6% $59,922
4BR $222,687 $1,710 5.5% +7.6% $55,672
5BR $250,153 +7.6% $50,031

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$196K$171K$146K$121K$96K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,187$1,123$1,060$996$933$869Feb 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44146 Compare?

Metric 44146 Bedford Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $185,087 $185,087 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,066 $1,066 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44146? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 46% 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 44146 (Bedford, 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

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
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $185,087
Monthly Rent $1,066
Price-to-Rent 14.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 10.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
8.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44146

Population: 29,474

💰 Median Household Income
$52,938
This area
$52,938
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.7%
This area
45.7%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.1 years
This area
45.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 58.2%
White 34.8%
Other/Mixed 6.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.9%
This area
16.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
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 44146

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$20,083 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Central Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Columbus Intermediate School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Glendale Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Heskett Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
579 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bedford High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
880 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Carylwood Intermediate School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
241 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student
A Very Good

EXCEL

📚 03 – 12 High School
👥
94 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,083 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Milkovich Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 19800 Stafford Ave, Maple Heights
👥
678 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,821 Per Student
B Good

Barack Obama School

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
📍 5800 Glenwood Ave, Maple Heights
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,821 Per Student
B Good

Maple Heights High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1 Mustang Way, Maple Heights
👥
1,017 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,821 Per Student
B Good

Abraham Lincoln School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
📍 6009 Dunham Rd, Maple Heights
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,821 Per Student
B Good

J.F. Kennedy School

📚 K – 03 Elementary
📍 5933 Dunham Rd, Maple Heights
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
24.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,821 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 72 Off-Campus Students
D
Remington College-Cleveland Campus
133 students · 3.8 mi
D
Ohio Media School-Valley View
74 students · 4.5 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Cleveland
142 students · 4.9 mi
C
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
90 students · 5.6 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
84 students · 6.1 mi
D
Central School of Practical Nursing
56 students · 6.7 mi
C+
John Carroll University
2,773 students · 7.5 mi
C
Ursuline College
923 students · 8.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Bedford, OH rate as a rental market?

Bedford, OH scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $185K and rents near $1,066/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strict are landlord regulations in Bedford, OH?

Bedford, OH operates under OH law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect predictable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What are vacancy rates like in Bedford, OH?

Bedford, OH sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader OH rental market.

Can I house hack in Bedford, OH?

Bedford, OH is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $185K price point reasonable to enter.

What do landlords charge for rent in Bedford, OH?

Rent in Bedford, OH is around $1,066/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $185K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 44146 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44146 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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