Real Estate Investing in Lincoln, Nebraska (68502)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 25,571 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68502 (Lincoln, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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 Lincoln, NE (68502)?

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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 $242,965
Avg Monthly Rent $915
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,792
% Renters 46.8%

Market Analysis: 68502 Lincoln

ZIP 68502 in Lincoln, NE carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $243K and rents of $915/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $243K asset, 68502 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within NE, ZIP 68502 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lancaster County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 68502 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 68502 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Lincoln:

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 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $915/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
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
🏠

Property Strategy for 68502

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$69,518/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $136,289 $820 4.3% +9.3% $136,289
2BR $189,387 $1,020 3.9% +7.5% $94,693
3BR $247,625 $1,420 4.1% +7.0% $82,542
4BR $294,442 $1,520 3.7% +6.8% $73,610
5BR $347,590 +6.9% $69,518

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$257K$226K$194K$162K$130K$98KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,016$932$848$764$679$595Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68502 Compare?

Metric 68502 Lincoln Lincoln, NE Nebraska
Home Value $242,965 $275,140 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.0% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $915 $1,312 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68502? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 47% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 68502 (Lincoln, 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

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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
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 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 $242,965
Monthly Rent $915
Price-to-Rent 22.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
7.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68502

Population: 25,571

💰 Median Household Income
$63,792
This area
$63,792
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.8%
This area
46.8%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.7%
This area
37.7%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.7 years
This area
34.7 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.4%
Other/Mixed 13.9%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8%
Black/African American 5.9%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.0%
This area
13.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
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

🎓 Schools in 68502

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,943 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

EVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

PRESCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

SARATOGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
225 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

BEATTIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
828 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
C Below Average

SCIENCE FOCUS PROGRAM

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,943 Per Student
C Below Average

CHILD GUIDANCE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 855 S 8TH ST, LINCOLN
👥
784 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

MCPHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 820 GOODHUE BLVD, LINCOLN
👥
275 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 206 S 13TH ST STE 800, LINCOLN
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
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 3,458 Off-Campus Students
C+
College of Hair Design-Downtown
72 students · 1.9 mi
B
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
23,986 students · 2.3 mi
C
Union Adventist University
635 students · 2.7 mi
C
Bryan College of Health Sciences
746 students · 2.7 mi
D
University of Nebraska-Central Administration System Office
0 students · 3.6 mi
D
Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
49 students · 3.7 mi
C
Southeast Community College Area
9,799 students · 4.2 mi
C
Joseph's College Cosmetology
98 students · 4.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Lincoln, NE?

Expect rents around $915/mo per month in Lincoln, NE. With home values at $243K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is the tenant base reliable in Lincoln, NE?

Tenant quality in Lincoln, NE ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $915/mo.

How tight is the rental market in Lincoln, NE?

Vacancy in Lincoln, NE is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $915/mo.

How strict are landlord regulations in Lincoln, NE?

For rental operators, Lincoln, NE rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Lincoln in NE worth investing in?

Lincoln, NE rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $243K and rents near $915/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 68502 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68502 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 68502 ranks in Lincoln, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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