Real Estate Investing in Lincoln, Nebraska (68505)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 18,185 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68505 (Lincoln, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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 (68505)?

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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 $267,180
Avg Monthly Rent $1,359
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,962
% Renters 41.6%

Market Analysis: 68505 Lincoln

ZIP 68505 inside Lancaster County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $267K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $267K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 68505 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 68505's metrics run below Lancaster County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 68505 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 68505 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 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 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,359/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 68505

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$79,542/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $106,024 $980 6.7% +5.1% $106,024
2BR $218,320 $1,210 4.0% +6.9% $109,160
3BR $257,095 $1,680 4.7% +6.8% $85,698
4BR $318,169 $1,820 4.1% +6.1% $79,542

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$282K$247K$213K$179K$144K$110KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,448$1,386$1,324$1,262$1,200$1,138Mar 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68505 Compare?

Metric 68505 Lincoln Lincoln, NE Nebraska
Home Value $267,180 $275,140 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,359 $1,312 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68505? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% 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 68505 (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
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
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 $267,180
Monthly Rent $1,359
Price-to-Rent 16.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68505

Population: 18,185

💰 Median Household Income
$71,962
This area
$71,962
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.6%
This area
41.6%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.3 years
This area
31.3 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.4%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Asian 4.4%
Black/African American 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.3%
This area
12.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
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 68505

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$14,943 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

BROWNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

MEADOW LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

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

PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6402 JUDSON ST, LINCOLN
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1024 S 37TH ST, LINCOLN
👥
450 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

NORWOOD PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4710 N 72ND ST, LINCOLN
👥
254 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
A Very Good

KAHOA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 7700 LEIGHTON ST, LINCOLN
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 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
C
Joseph's College Cosmetology
98 students · 0.9 mi
F
Myotherapy Institute
10 students · 1.0 mi
C
Southeast Community College Area
9,799 students · 1.2 mi
C
Nebraska Wesleyan University
1,690 students · 2.0 mi
D
University of Nebraska-Central Administration System Office
0 students · 2.6 mi
C
Bryan College of Health Sciences
746 students · 2.7 mi
C
Union Adventist University
635 students · 3.9 mi
B
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
23,986 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

Do rentals sit vacant long in Lincoln, NE?

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

Which real estate strategy fits Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln, NE investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($267K prices, $1,359/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does Lincoln, NE favor landlords or tenants?

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

What is the renter demographic in Lincoln, NE?

Tenant demand in Lincoln, NE is solid. The local workforce $1,359/mo rents across most rental classes.

How does Lincoln, NE stack up for property investment?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lincoln, NE reflects its $267K prices and $1,359/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NE.

You know 68505 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68505 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 68505 ranks in Lincoln, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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