Real Estate Investing in Lakeville, Ohio (44638)

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

Holmes County • Population: 1,228 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44638 (Lakeville, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lakeville, OH (44638)?

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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 $304,559
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,672
% Renters 24.5%

Market Analysis: 44638 Lakeville

Investors eyeing 44638 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $305K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 44638 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 44638's metrics run below Holmes County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 44638 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Lakeville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 44638. 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 Lakeville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/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
Ashland, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.9%
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 Ashland, OH metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$320K$275K$230K$186K$141K$96KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44638 Compare?

Metric 44638 Lakeville Ashland, OH Ohio
Home Value $304,559 $304,559 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $936 $936 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44638? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44638 (Lakeville, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ashland, OH metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
56%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $304,559
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 27.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
17.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44638

Population: 1,228

💰 Median Household Income
$83,672
This area
$83,672
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.5%
This area
24.5%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.2 years
This area
33.2 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.9%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
👶 Under 18
30.1%
This area
30.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.6%
This area
16.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 44638

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,399 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Lakeville Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
98 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,399 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

2 Nearby 54 Off-Campus Students
C+
Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center
35 students · 12.5 mi
C
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
462 students · 14.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Lakeville, OH a good investment right now?

Lakeville, OH scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $305K and rents near $936/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Lakeville, OH?

Occupancy in Lakeville, OH runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $936/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lakeville, OH?

Typical homes in Lakeville, OH go for around $305K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Lakeville, OH?

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

What is the typical rental rate in Lakeville, OH?

The typical rental in Lakeville, OH commands about $936/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $305K purchase basis.

You know 44638 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44638 ranks in Ashland, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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