Real Estate Investing in Waterloo, Indiana (46793)

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

De Kalb County • Population: 4,122 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46793 (Waterloo, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Waterloo, IN (46793)?

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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 $257,506
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,177
% Renters 17.4%

Market Analysis: 46793 Waterloo

This part of De Kalb County is not an easy win. The 46793 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $258K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 46793 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 46793's metrics run below De Kalb 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 46793 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 Waterloo's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 46793. 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 Waterloo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/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
Auburn, IN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.2%
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 Auburn, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 46793

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$74,332/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $172,324 $960 4.0% +8.0% $86,162
3BR $227,057 $1,190 3.8% +8.3% $75,686
4BR $297,330 $1,270 3.1% +7.7% $74,332

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$271K$235K$199K$163K$127K$91KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46793 Compare?

Metric 46793 Waterloo Auburn, IN Indiana
Home Value $257,506 $257,506 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.2% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46793? 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 46793 (Waterloo, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Auburn, IN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
39%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $257,506
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 24.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
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: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
4.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46793

Population: 4,122

💰 Median Household Income
$74,177
This area
$74,177
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.0 years
This area
39.0 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.6%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
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 46793

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$13,070 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

DeKalb Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
774 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,070 Per Student
B Good

Waterloo Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
224 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,070 Per Student
B Good

DeKalb High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,052 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,070 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
B+
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
8,230 students · 11.9 mi
C
Trine University
4,471 students · 11.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo, IN rentals go for roughly $864/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $258K acquisition costs.

How high is vacancy risk in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo, IN carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $864/mo.

Should investors consider Waterloo, IN?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Waterloo, IN reflects its $258K prices and $864/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IN.

Is Waterloo, IN suited for a house hack?

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

How should investors approach Waterloo, IN?

In Waterloo, IN the sturdy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $258K prices and $864/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 46793 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46793 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 46793 ranks in Auburn, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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