Real Estate Investing in Kearney, Nebraska (68847)

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

Buffalo County • Population: 17,911 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68847 (Kearney, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 (68847)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $293,049
Avg Monthly Rent $1,600
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,818
% Renters 31.5%

Market Analysis: 68847 Kearney

This part of Buffalo County is not an easy win. The 68847 ZIP stands at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 68847 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $293K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In the broader NE picture, 68847 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Stepping back, 17,911 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.

The right play in 68847 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 Kearney:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,600/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 68847

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$77,791/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $268,624 $1,430 3.8% +6.5% $89,541
4BR $311,163 $1,810 4.2% +6.6% $77,791

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$305K$270K$234K$199K$163K$127KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 68847 Compare?

Metric 68847 Kearney Kearney, NE Nebraska
Home Value $293,049 $214,432 N/A $269,423
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.7% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,600 $1,563 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 68847? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 68847 (Kearney, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
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 $293,049
Monthly Rent $1,600
Price-to-Rent 15.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
5.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68847

Population: 17,911

💰 Median Household Income
$66,818
This area
$66,818
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.6%
This area
35.6%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.9 years
This area
36.9 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.5%
Other/Mixed 10.1%
Hispanic/Latino 8.2%
Asian 2.7%
Black/African American 0.8%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.9%
This area
10.9%
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 68847

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
13.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,031 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
243 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
543 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B+ Above Average

EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,031 Per Student
B Good

MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$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 · 4.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kearney, NE make sense for an investment property?

Our data puts Kearney, NE at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $293K and rents around $1,600/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How tight is the rental market in Kearney, NE?

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

Which investment style suits Kearney, NE?

For Kearney, NE, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Kearney, NE?

Tenant quality in Kearney, NE ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $1,600/mo.

What is the average home sale price in Kearney, NE?

The median home value in Kearney, NE is roughly $293K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NE statewide average.

You know 68847 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 68847 ranks in Kearney, NE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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