Real Estate Investing in Lincoln, Nebraska (68503)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 15,625 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68503 (Lincoln, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

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

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 (68503)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $202,557
Avg Monthly Rent $1,249
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,874
% Renters 65.2%

Market Analysis: 68503 Lincoln

ZIP 68503 inside Lancaster County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $203K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 68503 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $203K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Lincoln have seen price recovery that 68503 has not matched. Lancaster County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 68503 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 68503 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: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,249/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 68503

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$53,268/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $130,976 $840 4.6% +8.3% $130,976
2BR $172,180 $1,030 4.3% +7.9% $86,090
3BR $201,871 $1,430 5.1% +7.2% $67,290
4BR $213,074 $1,550 5.2% +7.5% $53,268

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$219K$188K$158K$127K$97K$66KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,431$1,294$1,156$1,018$881$743Nov 2020Sep 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68503 Compare?

Metric 68503 Lincoln Lincoln, NE Nebraska
Home Value $202,557 $275,140 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.0% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,249 $1,312 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68503? Click to expand

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

65% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 68503 (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

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
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.6%
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 $202,557
Monthly Rent $1,249
Price-to-Rent 13.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +13.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
7.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68503

Population: 15,625

💰 Median Household Income
$44,874
This area
$44,874
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
65.2%
This area
65.2%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.2%
This area
36.2%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
26.8 years
This area
26.8 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 63.5%
Other/Mixed 15.5%
Asian 11.6%
Black/African American 9.4%
Hispanic/Latino 7.7%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
8.2%
This area
8.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.5%
This area
16.5%
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 68503

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
10.2:1 Avg Class Size
$14,943 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

CLINTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

HARTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
C Below Average

BAY HIGH FOCUS PROGRAM

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

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

CULLER MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5201 VINE ST, LINCOLN
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 5130 COLFAX STREET, LINCOLN
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

ELLIOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 225 S 25TH ST, LINCOLN
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2900 N 46TH ST, LINCOLN
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
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
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
D
University of Nebraska-Central Administration System Office
0 students · 0.5 mi
B
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
23,986 students · 1.5 mi
C
Nebraska Wesleyan University
1,690 students · 1.7 mi
C+
College of Hair Design-Downtown
72 students · 1.9 mi
C
Bryan College of Health Sciences
746 students · 2.2 mi
C
Joseph's College Cosmetology
98 students · 2.6 mi
C
Southeast Community College Area
9,799 students · 2.6 mi
F
Myotherapy Institute
10 students · 3.6 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What strategy should investors use in Lincoln, NE?

For Lincoln, NE, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Lincoln, NE?

Vacancy risk in Lincoln, NE is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

How does Lincoln, NE rate as a rental market?

Lincoln, NE reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $203K and average rents around $1,249/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

How do home values compare in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln, NE home values average about $203K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,249/mo in monthly income.

How strong is the working-renter base in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln, NE draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,249/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 68503 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 68503 ranks in Lincoln, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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