Real Estate Investing in Laurel, Nebraska (68745)

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

Cedar County • Population: 1,747 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68745 (Laurel, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Laurel, NE (68745)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $213,593
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,000
% Renters 26.8%

Market Analysis: 68745 Laurel

Investors eyeing 68745 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $214K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $214K asset, 68745 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 68745 sits on the difficult end of the NE spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 68745 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.

The right play in 68745 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Laurel:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$222K$197K$173K$148K$124K$99KFeb 2015Nov 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68745 Compare?

Metric 68745 Laurel Nebraska
Home Value $213,593 $213,593 $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% 6.7%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 68745? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 68745 (Laurel, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $213,593
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 19.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
15.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68745

Population: 1,747

💰 Median Household Income
$60,000
This area
$60,000
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.9%
This area
30.9%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.1 years
This area
37.1 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.0%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Asian 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
👶 Under 18
27.3%
This area
27.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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 68745

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.0:1 Avg Class Size
$30,056 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
154 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$30,056 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
139 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$30,056 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

1 Nearby 235 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wayne State College
4,807 students · 14.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Laurel, NE?

Vacancy in Laurel, NE is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $918/mo.

What strategy should investors use in Laurel, NE?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Laurel, NE. With home values at $214K and rents near $918/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical renter like in Laurel, NE?

Tenant quality in Laurel, NE ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $918/mo.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Laurel, NE?

House hacking in Laurel, NE is a challenging. With home values around $214K and rents at $918/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the investability score for Laurel, NE?

Yes - Laurel, NE a 3.0/5 investability score. With $214K home prices against $918/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

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