Real Estate Investing in Farwell, Nebraska (68838)

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

Howard County • Population: 238 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68838 (Farwell, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (33/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 13.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Farwell, NE (68838)?

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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 $241,548
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income N/A
% Renters 20.5%

Market Analysis: 68838 Farwell

ZIP 68838 inside Howard County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $242K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 68838 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 68838 and stronger Farwell ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 68838 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 68838 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 Farwell:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Grand Island, NE Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.0%
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 Grand Island, NE metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$259K$238K$217K$196K$175K$154KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68838 Compare?

Metric 68838 Farwell Grand Island, NE Nebraska
Home Value $241,548 $241,548 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68838? 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 68838 (Farwell, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Grand Island, NE metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $241,548
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 21.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
13.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68838

Population: 238

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
65.1 years
This area
65.1 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Other/Mixed 0.9%
👶 Under 18
6.8%
This area
6.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
54.1%
This area
54.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Farwell, NE?

In Farwell, NE the median home value sits at $242K. Against the broader NE market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the smart move for investors in Farwell, NE?

In Farwell, NE the significant play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $242K prices and $918/mo rents suits that approach.

Is house hacking profitable in Farwell, NE?

House hacking in Farwell, NE is reasonable to execute. Prices around $242K and rents of $918/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Farwell, NE a good place for real estate investing?

Farwell, NE comes in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $242K and average rents around $918/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

Are renters plentiful in Farwell, NE?

Working renters make up the core of the Farwell, NE tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 68838 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68838 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 68838 ranks in Grand Island, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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