Real Estate Investing in Cincinnati, Ohio (45226)

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

Hamilton County • Population: 5,962 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45226 (Cincinnati, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Cincinnati, OH (45226)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $461,392
Avg Monthly Rent $1,809
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $101,987
% Renters 39.2%

Market Analysis: 45226 Cincinnati

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cincinnati's 45226 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $461K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 45226 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 45226 and stronger Cincinnati ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 45226 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 45226 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Cincinnati:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,809/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
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
29 days
Average time to sell
Fast
12.9%
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 45226

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$158,400/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $323,686 $1,520 3.4% +5.9% $161,843
3BR $475,201 $2,010 3.0% +5.7% $158,400
4BR $796,800 $2,220 2.0% +6.7% $199,200

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$488K$431K$374K$317K$260K$203KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,857$1,727$1,598$1,469$1,340$1,211Dec 2022Oct 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45226 Compare?

Metric 45226 Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Ohio
Home Value $461,392 $262,113 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 4.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,809 $1,409 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 45226? 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 45226 (Cincinnati, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Hamilton County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Associa RPM provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services in the greater Columbus, Dublin, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas of Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Gaslight Property offers apartments for rent in Clifton, near UC. summary from their website

Small multifamily
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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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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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $461,392
Monthly Rent $1,809
Price-to-Rent 21.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +19.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45226

Population: 5,962

💰 Median Household Income
$101,987
This area
$101,987
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.2%
This area
39.2%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.7%
This area
72.7%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.8%
Other/Mixed 5.4%
Asian 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
Black/African American 1.7%
👶 Under 18
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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 45226

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$20,319 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Riverview East Academy

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
487 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,319 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Mt. Washington School

📚 Pre-K – 07 School
📍 1730 Mears Ave, Cincinnati
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,319 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dayton High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 200 Greendevil Ln, Dayton
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,719 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 701 Fifth Ave, Dayton
👥
501 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,719 Per Student
A Very Good

Hyde Park School

📚 K – 06 School
📍 3401 Edwards Rd, Cincinnati
👥
574 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,319 Per Student
A Very Good

Clark Montessori High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 3030 Erie Ave, Cincinnati
👥
751 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,319 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
Athenaeum of Ohio
166 students · 3.2 mi
D
Interactive College of Technology-Newport
73 students · 3.7 mi
D
Ohio Media School-Cincinnati
67 students · 3.8 mi
C+
Xavier University
6,000 students · 3.9 mi
D
Brighton Center's Center for Employment Training
68 students · 4.0 mi
C
Union Institute & University
1,098 students · 4.2 mi
C+
Gods Bible School and College
443 students · 4.6 mi
C
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
765 students · 4.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly rent should investors expect in Cincinnati, OH?

Rents in Cincinnati, OH run near $1,809/mo. Compared with median home prices of $461K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Cincinnati, OH?

Vacancy risk in Cincinnati, OH is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

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

Investors tracking Cincinnati, OH will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $461K median home values and $1,809/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

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

House hacking in Cincinnati, OH is a challenging. With home values around $461K and rents at $1,809/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is Cincinnati, OH landlord-friendly?

The landlord environment in Cincinnati, OH is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 45226 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 45226 ranks in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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