Real Estate Investing in Wausa, Nebraska (68765)

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

Pierce County • Population: 1,158 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68765 (Wausa, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 16.6% 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 Wausa, NE (68765)?

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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 $229,541
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,333
% Renters 17.3%

Market Analysis: 68765 Wausa

ZIP 68765 in Wausa, NE carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $230K and rents of $864/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 68765 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within NE, ZIP 68765 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Pierce County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

The 68765 ZIP's population of 1,158 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 68765 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 Wausa:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.9%)
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 68765

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$73,301/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $168,289 $960 4.1% +5.3% $84,145
3BR $219,903 $1,150 3.8% +5.7% $73,301
4BR $307,723 $1,540 3.6% +4.5% $76,931

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$240K$211K$183K$154K$125K$96KMar 2008May 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68765 Compare?

Metric 68765 Wausa Norfolk, NE Nebraska
Home Value $229,541 $213,549 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68765? 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 68765 (Wausa, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📉 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 $229,541
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 22.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
16.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68765

Population: 1,158

💰 Median Household Income
$68,333
This area
$68,333
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.3%
This area
17.3%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.1%
This area
24.1%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.0 years
This area
43.0 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Other/Mixed 1.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
28.9%
This area
28.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.3%
This area
9.3%
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 68765

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
7.9:1 Avg Class Size
$24,118 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

OSMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
92 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,118 Per Student
A Very Good

OSMOND HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
81 Students
👨‍🏫
6.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,118 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

What is the typical home price in Wausa, NE?

In Wausa, NE the median home value sits at $230K. Against the broader NE market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Are tenants stable in Wausa, NE?

Wausa, NE draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $864/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Wausa, NE?

NE ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Wausa generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Can I house hack in Wausa, NE?

Wausa, NE is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $230K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Wausa, NE?

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

You know 68765 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68765 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 68765 ranks in Norfolk, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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