Real Estate Investing in Kearney, Nebraska (68845)

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

Buffalo County • Population: 21,012 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68845 (Kearney, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Kearney, NE (68845)?

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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 $350,247
Avg Monthly Rent $1,526
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,450
% Renters 40.1%

Market Analysis: 68845 Kearney

Investors eyeing 68845 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $350K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 68845 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 68845 sits on the difficult end of the NE spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 68845 ZIP's population of 21,012 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 68845 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $350K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Kearney:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,526/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
Kearney, NE Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.4%
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 Kearney, NE metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$366K$320K$275K$229K$184K$138KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,691$1,623$1,555$1,487$1,419$1,351Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68845 Compare?

Metric 68845 Kearney Kearney, NE Nebraska
Home Value $350,247 $214,432 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 5.7% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,526 $1,563 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68845? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 40% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 68845 (Kearney, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kearney, NE metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $350,247
Monthly Rent $1,526
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.8% ▲
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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68845

Population: 21,012

💰 Median Household Income
$73,450
This area
$73,450
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.1%
This area
40.1%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.7%
This area
41.7%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.1 years
This area
32.1 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.7%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 68845

C+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,031 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
631 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
385 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
275 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

WEST KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
54 Students
👨‍🏫
2.7:1 Class Size
B Good

WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
255 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
C+ Average

KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,654 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
C Below Average

KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
355 Students
👨‍🏫
26.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
C Below Average

HANNY ARRAM CENTER

📚 05 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$12,031 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 318 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Nebraska at Kearney
6,017 students · 3.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Which real estate strategy fits Kearney, NE?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Kearney, NE. The numbers - $350K homes against $1,526/mo rents - support that play.

How much is rent in Kearney, NE?

Rents in Kearney, NE run near $1,526/mo. Compared with median home prices of $350K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Is Kearney, NE good for house hacking?

House hacking in Kearney, NE is a challenging. With home values around $350K and rents at $1,526/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What are vacancy rates like in Kearney, NE?

Kearney, NE sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NE rental market.

How expensive is real estate in Kearney, NE?

Median home price in Kearney, NE is near $350K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 68845 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 68845 ranks in Kearney, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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