Real Estate Investing in Eleva, Wisconsin (54738)

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

Eau Claire County • Population: 3,759 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54738 (Eleva, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 38.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Eleva, WI (54738)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $416,117
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $85,179
% Renters 27.1%

Market Analysis: 54738 Eleva

ZIP 54738 in Eleva, WI carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $416K and rents of $891/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 54738 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $416K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader WI picture, 54738 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 54738 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 54738, 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 Eleva:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Eau Claire, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.1%
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 Eau Claire, WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$439K$388K$338K$287K$236K$186KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54738 Compare?

Metric 54738 Eleva Eau Claire, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $416,117 $416,117 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $891 $891 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% - -
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 54738 (Eleva, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Eau Claire, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $416,117
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 38.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.6%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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
6.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54738

Population: 3,759

💰 Median Household Income
$85,179
This area
$85,179
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.1%
This area
27.1%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.6%
This area
29.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.9%
Other/Mixed 9.9%
Hispanic/Latino 9.3%
Black/African American 0.1%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
27.7%
This area
27.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 6,144 Off-Campus Students
C+
The Professional Hair Design Academy
75 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Chippewa Valley Technical College
8,198 students · 13.9 mi
B
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
9,991 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,144 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Eleva, WI?

Rents in Eleva, WI run near $891/mo. Compared with median home prices of $416K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Eleva, WI?

Eleva, WI vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How strong is Eleva, WI for real estate investors?

Eleva, WI scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $416K and rents near $891/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can I house hack in Eleva, WI?

Eleva, WI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $416K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the renter demographic in Eleva, WI?

Tenant quality in Eleva, WI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $891/mo.

You know 54738 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54738 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 54738 ranks in Eau Claire, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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