Real Estate Investing in Lerna, Illinois (62440)

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

Coles County • Population: 1,092 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 62440 (Lerna, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (83/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Lerna, IL (62440)?

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

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $194,721
Avg Monthly Rent $1,179
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,058
% Renters 10.0%

Market Analysis: 62440 Lerna

ZIP 62440 inside Coles County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $195K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $195K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 62440 is substantial and deserves full respect.

From an investor standpoint, 62440 offers a low basis, the region around Lerna has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 62440 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 62440 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 Lerna:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+19.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,179/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
Charleston-Mattoon, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.5%
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 Charleston-Mattoon, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$203K$181K$160K$139K$118K$97KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62440 Compare?

Metric 62440 Lerna Charleston-Mattoon, IL Illinois
Home Value $194,721 $194,721 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 8.2% 8.2% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,179 $1,179 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62440? 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 62440 (Lerna, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 62440 (Lerna, IL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $194,721
Monthly Rent $1,179
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 12.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +19.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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
10.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62440

Population: 1,092

💰 Median Household Income
$66,058
This area
$66,058
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.3%
This area
23.3%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.6 years
This area
51.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.4%
Other/Mixed 1.6%
👶 Under 18
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.3%
This area
0.3%
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 62440

C Avg School Grade
1 Schools

Schools in This ZIP Code

C Below Average

Lerna Bridges

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
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 2,054 Off-Campus Students
C+
Lake Land College
3,699 students · 6.5 mi
C+
Eastern Illinois University
8,804 students · 7.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,054 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Lerna, IL for investors?

Our data puts Lerna, IL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $195K and rents around $1,179/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the typical rental rate in Lerna, IL?

The typical rental in Lerna, IL commands about $1,179/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $195K purchase basis.

How do home values compare in Lerna, IL?

Homes in Lerna, IL typically sell near $195K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Lerna, IL?

Lerna, IL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,179/mo rent level.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Lerna, IL?

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

You know 62440 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 62440 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

How 62440 ranks in Charleston-Mattoon, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 62440 (Lerna)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 62440 (Lerna, IL).

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