Real Estate Investing in Howells, Nebraska (68641)

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

Colfax County • Population: 986 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68641 (Howells, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Howells, NE (68641)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $261,560
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,375
% Renters 10.3%

Market Analysis: 68641 Howells

The 68641 ZIP covers a section of Howells that demands careful diligence. Prices near $262K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 68641 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader NE picture, 68641 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Put differently, 986 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.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 68641, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Howells:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Norfolk, NE Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.5%
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 Norfolk, NE metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 68641

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$86,302/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $261,993 $1,160 3.2% +9.9% $87,331
4BR $345,208 $1,270 2.6% +9.3% $86,302

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$288K$246K$203K$161K$118K$76KDec 2010Oct 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68641 Compare?

Metric 68641 Howells Norfolk, NE Nebraska
Home Value $261,560 $261,560 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 8.4% 8.4% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68641? 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 →
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 68641 (Howells, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Norfolk, NE metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
70%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $261,560
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 25.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 11.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68641

Population: 986

💰 Median Household Income
$61,375
This area
$61,375
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.3%
This area
10.3%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.4%
This area
23.4%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.4 years
This area
51.4 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.4%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Black/African American 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.3%
This area
28.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
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 68641

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
8.9:1 Avg Class Size
$24,768 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

HOWELLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
137 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,768 Per Student
A Very Good

HOWELLS-DODGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/HOWELLS

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
27 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,768 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Howells, NE?

Howells, NE rentals go for roughly $864/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $262K acquisition costs.

How deep is the rental pool in Howells, NE?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Howells, NE. The rental market absorbs $864/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What investment strategy works best in Howells, NE?

Most investors in Howells, NE run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Howells, NE good for landlords?

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

What is the typical home price in Howells, NE?

In Howells, NE the median home value sits at $262K. Against the broader NE market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 68641 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68641 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 68641 ranks in Norfolk, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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