Real Estate Investing in Otway, Ohio (45657)

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

Scioto County • Population: 1,697 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45657 (Otway, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

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: 45.6% 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 Otway, OH (45657)?

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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 $155,144
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,864
% Renters 11.8%

Market Analysis: 45657 Otway

The 45657 ZIP covers a section of Otway that demands careful diligence. Prices near $155K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 45657 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 45657 among OH's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A sturdy renter share of 12% in 45657 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. healthy returns are possible in 45657, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Otway:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.5%)
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
Portsmouth, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.9%
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 Portsmouth, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 45657

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$60,211/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $125,871 $970 5.5% +7.2% $62,936
3BR $180,632 $1,320 5.3% +7.5% $60,211

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$163K$144K$126K$108K$90K$72KMar 2010May 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45657 Compare?

Metric 45657 Otway Portsmouth, OH Ohio
Home Value $155,144 $155,144 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 45657? 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 →
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 45657 (Otway, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 45657 (Otway, OH)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Portsmouth, OH metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $155,144
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 11.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
45.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45657

Population: 1,697

💰 Median Household Income
$63,864
This area
$63,864
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.8%
This area
11.8%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.2 years
This area
50.2 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
45.6%
This area
45.6%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.4%
Other/Mixed 1.5%
👶 Under 18
9.4%
This area
9.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 665 Off-Campus Students
C
Scioto County Career Technical Center
125 students · 12.4 mi
C+
Shawnee State University
3,206 students · 14.3 mi
C
Paramount Beauty Academy
53 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 665 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How landlord-friendly is Otway, OH?

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

Is the tenant base reliable in Otway, OH?

The renter base in Otway, OH is reasonable for the $873/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

What is the best play in Otway, OH?

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

Is Otway, OH good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Otway, OH. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $873/mo rents and $155K home values.

What price range are homes in Otway, OH?

The median home value in Otway, OH is roughly $155K. That puts it reasonable relative to the OH statewide average.

You know 45657 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 45657 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 45657 ranks in Portsmouth, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

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