Real Estate Investing in Martell, Nebraska (68404)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 1,048 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68404 (Martell, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 46.2 — 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 Martell, NE (68404)?

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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 $548,265
Avg Monthly Rent $990
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,219
% Renters 11.3%

Market Analysis: 68404 Martell

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 68404 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $548K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $548K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 68404 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Nearby ZIPs in Martell have seen price recovery that 68404 has not matched. Lancaster County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

From a cash-flow lens, 1,048 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 68404 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 Martell:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $990/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Lincoln, NE Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
31 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.0%
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 Lincoln, NE metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$577K$493K$409K$324K$240K$156KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68404 Compare?

Metric 68404 Martell Lincoln, NE Nebraska
Home Value $548,265 $548,265 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $990 $990 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.4% 1.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68404? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 68404 (Martell, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Lancaster County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Kabredlo's Property offers apartment homes for rent in Nebraska and Iowa. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Four Corners Property Management, LLC welcomes you home. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lincoln, NE 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
31 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $548,265
Monthly Rent $990
Price-to-Rent 46.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.2%
Cap Rate 1.4%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.4%). 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)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68404

Population: 1,048

💰 Median Household Income
$84,219
This area
$84,219
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.9%
This area
36.9%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.8 years
This area
50.8 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.0%
Other/Mixed 10.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
👶 Under 18
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.7%
This area
32.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.0%
This area
13.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 3,458 Off-Campus Students
C
Doane University
1,948 students · 10.2 mi
D
Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
49 students · 11.2 mi
C+
College of Hair Design-East Campus
116 students · 11.5 mi
C
Union Adventist University
635 students · 12.1 mi
C
Bryan College of Health Sciences
746 students · 13.4 mi
C+
College of Hair Design-Downtown
72 students · 13.5 mi
B
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
23,986 students · 14.0 mi
C
Southeast Community College Area
9,799 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,458 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Martell, NE make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Martell, NE reflects its $548K prices and $990/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NE.

How expensive is real estate in Martell, NE?

The median home value in Martell, NE is roughly $548K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NE statewide average.

Is vacancy a concern in Martell, NE?

Rental vacancy in Martell, NE is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Can I house hack in Martell, NE?

Martell, NE offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $990/mo rent level.

Which investment style suits Martell, NE?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Martell, NE best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $548K price point.

You know 68404 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 68404 ranks in Lincoln, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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