Real Estate Investing in Fostoria, Ohio (44830)

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

Seneca County • Population: 18,409 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44830 (Fostoria, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 12.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Fostoria, OH (44830)?

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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 $146,024
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,897
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 44830 Fostoria

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Fostoria's 44830 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $146K pricing implies.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $146K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 44830 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 44830 among OH's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 44830 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 44830 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $146K 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 Fostoria:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Tiffin, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
12.5%
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 Tiffin, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44830

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$41,999/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $67,350 $740 7.9% +7.3% $67,350
2BR $103,322 $970 6.8% +8.9% $51,661
3BR $151,613 $1,240 5.9% +8.1% $50,538
4BR $180,943 $1,380 5.5% +7.8% $45,236
5BR $209,996 +6.5% $41,999

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$153K$134K$115K$96K$77K$58KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44830 Compare?

Metric 44830 Fostoria Tiffin, OH Ohio
Home Value $146,024 $146,024 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44830? Click to expand

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

📊 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 44830 (Fostoria, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tiffin, OH metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
50%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $146,024
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
12.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44830

Population: 18,409

💰 Median Household Income
$58,897
This area
$58,897
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.6%
This area
12.6%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.7 years
This area
39.7 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.1%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Black/African American 3.7%
Asian 2.1%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
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 44830

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$15,111 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Fostoria Junior/Senior High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
769 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,111 Per Student
B Good

Fostoria Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
1,066 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,111 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

3 Nearby
C
Tiffin University
3,598 students · 11.7 mi
C
Tiffin Academy of Hair Design
46 students · 12.2 mi
C
Heidelberg University
1,059 students · 12.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Fostoria, OH?

Median home price in Fostoria, OH is near $146K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are there empty rentals in Fostoria, OH?

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

What is it like being a landlord in Fostoria, OH?

OH law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Fostoria inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What do landlords charge for rent in Fostoria, OH?

Rent in Fostoria, OH is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $146K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is Fostoria, OH suited for a house hack?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Fostoria, OH reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 44830 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 44830 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 44830 ranks in Tiffin, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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