Real Estate Investing in Lima, Ohio (45801)

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

Allen County • Population: 21,431 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45801 (Lima, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 11.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Lima, OH (45801)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $143,431
Avg Monthly Rent $1,134
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,603
% Renters 44.7%

Market Analysis: 45801 Lima

The 45801 ZIP in Lima, OH is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $143K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $143K asset, 45801 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Lima have seen price recovery that 45801 has not matched. Allen County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 45801 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lima averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 45801 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 Lima:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,134/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
Lima, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.4%
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 Lima, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 45801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$45,355/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $97,615 $1,070 7.9% +8.0% $48,808
3BR $148,342 $1,290 6.3% +8.1% $49,447
4BR $181,419 $1,440 5.7% +7.8% $45,355
5BR $236,209 +7.1% $47,242

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

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

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,251$1,195$1,140$1,084$1,029$973Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45801 Compare?

Metric 45801 Lima Lima, OH Ohio
Home Value $143,431 $136,889 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,134 $1,137 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.2% 6.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 45801? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 45% 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 45801 (Lima, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 45801 (Lima, OH)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.2%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lima, OH metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $143,431
Monthly Rent $1,134
Price-to-Rent 10.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.5%
Cap Rate 6.2%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
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: 6.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.2%). 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
11.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45801

Population: 21,431

💰 Median Household Income
$44,603
This area
$44,603
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.7%
This area
44.7%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.0 years
This area
39.0 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.6%
Black/African American 13.6%
Other/Mixed 11.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.8%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
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 45801

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,363 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Lima North Middle School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,889 Per Student
A Very Good

Independence Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
269 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,889 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lima Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,000 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,889 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bath High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
B Good

Bath Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
766 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
B Good

Bath Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
410 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
C+ Average

Bath Digital Academy

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
C+ Average

West Central Learning Academy II

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$7,889 Per Student
C Below Average

Heir Force Community School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
28.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,695 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

7 Nearby 1,790 Off-Campus Students
C
James A. Rhodes State College
3,968 students · 2.6 mi
D
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
740 students · 2.6 mi
C
University of Northwestern Ohio
2,606 students · 6.3 mi
C
Ohio State Beauty Academy
96 students · 6.7 mi
C+
Apollo Career Center
527 students · 8.1 mi
C+
Ohio Northern University
3,042 students · 11.0 mi
C
Bluffton University
678 students · 11.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,790 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Lima, OH?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Lima, OH. With home values at $143K and rents near $1,134/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

How strong is tenant demand in Lima, OH?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Lima, OH. The rental market absorbs $1,134/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Lima, OH?

Expect elevated vacancy in Lima, OH. Rents at $1,134/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How landlord-friendly is Lima, OH?

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

How much rent can I charge in Lima, OH?

Rental rates in Lima, OH average $1,134/mo. Tenant demand and $143K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 45801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 45801 ranks in Lima, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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