Real Estate Investing in Fort Wayne, Indiana (46835)

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

Allen County • Population: 37,589 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46835 (Fort Wayne, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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.

What’s happening in Fort Wayne, IN (46835)?

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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 $264,909
Avg Monthly Rent $1,212
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,641
% Renters 26.5%

Market Analysis: 46835 Fort Wayne

ZIP 46835 inside Allen County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $265K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 46835 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

On the rental side, 46835 offers a low basis, the region around Fort Wayne has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 46835 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Fort Wayne:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,212/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
Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
13.6%
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 Fort Wayne, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 46835

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$75,417/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $197,934 $1,230 4.5% +8.1% $98,967
3BR $238,221 $1,530 4.6% +8.6% $79,407
4BR $301,668 $1,670 4.0% +7.8% $75,417
5BR $389,898 +7.1% $77,980

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$278K$242K$206K$170K$134K$98KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,249$1,206$1,162$1,119$1,075$1,032Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46835 Compare?

Metric 46835 Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN Indiana
Home Value $264,909 $94,884 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 7.0% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,212 $1,291 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46835? 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 46835 (Fort Wayne, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fort Wayne, IN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
45%
Days Pending
0/2
28 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $264,909
Monthly Rent $1,212
Price-to-Rent 18.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46835

Population: 37,589

💰 Median Household Income
$71,641
This area
$71,641
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.5%
This area
26.5%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.0 years
This area
34.0 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.7%
Other/Mixed 10.1%
Black/African American 6.6%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Asian 3.4%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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 46835

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,804 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Robert C Harris Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,804 Per Student
A Very Good

Saint Joseph Central School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,804 Per Student
A Very Good

Willard Shambaugh Elementary Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,804 Per Student
A Very Good

Arlington Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
404 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,804 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jefferson Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
676 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,804 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 1,109 Off-Campus Students
C
Ravenscroft Beauty College
114 students · 2.0 mi
C
Concordia Theological Seminary
296 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Purdue University Fort Wayne
8,874 students · 4.0 mi
C
Rudae's School of Beauty Culture-Ft Wayne
121 students · 5.2 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Fort Wayne
124 students · 5.7 mi
C
Indiana Institute of Technology
2,862 students · 6.2 mi
C
Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies
2,535 students · 6.2 mi
C
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
1,852 students · 8.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,109 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Fort Wayne, IN a good investment right now?

Fort Wayne, IN reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $265K and average rents around $1,212/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

What is the smart move for investors in Fort Wayne, IN?

The best-fit strategy in Fort Wayne, IN is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is rental property easy to operate in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne, IN falls under IN landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne, IN vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How viable is house hacking in Fort Wayne, IN?

House hacking in Fort Wayne, IN is reasonable to execute. Prices around $265K and rents of $1,212/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 46835 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 46835 ranks in Fort Wayne, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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