Real Estate Investing in Lincoln, Nebraska (68522)

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

Lancaster County • Population: 14,330 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68522 (Lincoln, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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 (68522)?

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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 $282,092
Avg Monthly Rent $1,328
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,917
% Renters 28.5%

Market Analysis: 68522 Lincoln

ZIP 68522 inside Lancaster County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $282K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 68522 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $282K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 68522 sits on the difficult end of the NE spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 68522 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,328/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 68522

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$79,583/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $232,460 $1,330 4.1% +7.1% $116,230
3BR $272,272 $1,850 4.9% +6.8% $90,757
4BR $318,330 $2,000 4.5% +6.5% $79,583

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$296K$260K$224K$188K$152K$116KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,360$1,312$1,264$1,215$1,167$1,119Oct 2024Sep 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68522 Compare?

Metric 68522 Lincoln Lincoln, NE Nebraska
Home Value $282,092 $275,140 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.0% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,328 $1,312 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68522? 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 68522 (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
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
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 $282,092
Monthly Rent $1,328
Price-to-Rent 17.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
3.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68522

Population: 14,330

💰 Median Household Income
$72,917
This area
$72,917
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.5%
This area
28.5%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.7 years
This area
32.7 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.8%
Other/Mixed 14.8%
Black/African American 7.4%
Hispanic/Latino 6.7%
Asian 4.1%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
7.4%
This area
7.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.8%
This area
10.8%
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 68522

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,943 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
851 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,943 Per Student
C+ Average

SPECIAL ED YANKEE HILL PROGRAM

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$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+
College of Hair Design-Downtown
72 students · 3.3 mi
B
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
23,986 students · 3.8 mi
D
University of Nebraska-Central Administration System Office
0 students · 5.7 mi
C
Bryan College of Health Sciences
746 students · 5.8 mi
C
Union Adventist University
635 students · 5.9 mi
D
Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics
49 students · 6.7 mi
C
Nebraska Wesleyan University
1,690 students · 6.9 mi
C
Southeast Community College Area
9,799 students · 7.2 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln, NE median home values land near $282K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,328/mo-per-month rentals.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Lincoln, NE?

Rent in Lincoln, NE is around $1,328/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $282K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How strong is tenant demand in Lincoln, NE?

Tenant demand in Lincoln, NE is solid. The local workforce $1,328/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Lincoln, NE a good market for FHA house hackers?

For house hackers, Lincoln, NE is a challenging. The $1,328/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $282K property.

How landlord-friendly is Lincoln, NE?

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

You know 68522 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 68522 ranks in Lincoln, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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