Real Estate Investing in Gays, Illinois (61928)

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

Moultrie County • Population: 782 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61928 (Gays, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

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

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Gays, IL (61928)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $199,594
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,333
% Renters 8.1%

Market Analysis: 61928 Gays

The 61928 ZIP in Gays, IL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $200K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $200K asset, 61928 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 61928 sits on the difficult end of the IL spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Turning to rents, 782 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The 61928 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Gays:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$207K$188K$169K$150K$132K$113KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61928 Compare?

Metric 61928 Gays Illinois
Home Value $199,594 $199,594 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% 6.6%
Avg Rent $846 $846 -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 61928? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61928 (Gays, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61928 (Gays, IL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $199,594
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61928

Population: 782

💰 Median Household Income
$78,333
This area
$78,333
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.4%
This area
15.4%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.1%
Other/Mixed 1.0%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.5%
This area
14.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
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

1 Nearby 1,808 Off-Campus Students
C+
Lake Land College
3,699 students · 7.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,808 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Gays, IL for real estate investors?

Gays, IL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $200K and rents near $846/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Gays, IL?

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

Where do rents currently stand in Gays, IL?

The typical rental in Gays, IL commands about $846/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $200K purchase basis.

Is housing expensive in Gays, IL?

Gays, IL home values average about $200K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $846/mo in monthly income.

How high is vacancy risk in Gays, IL?

Gays, IL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $846/mo.

You know 61928 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61928 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61928 (Gays)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 61928 (Gays, IL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.