Real Estate Investing in May, Texas (76857)

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

Brown County • Population: 2,118 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76857 (May, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 46.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.3% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.4% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in May, TX (76857)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $110,876
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,047
% Renters 30.4%

Market Analysis: 76857 May

The 76857 ZIP in May, TX is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $111K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 76857 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 76857 and stronger May ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 76857 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 76857 is an operator game, not a passive one. From an investor standpoint, entry prices of $111K 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 May:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/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
Brownwood, TX Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Brownwood, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$139K$131K$124K$116K$109K$101KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76857 Compare?

Metric 76857 May Brownwood, TX Texas
Home Value $110,876 $110,876 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.8% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 76857? 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 76857 (May, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.8%
Good
5yr Growth
-1.3%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Brownwood, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
63%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $110,876
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 9.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.5%
Cap Rate 6.8%
5-Year IRR 5.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.3% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.8%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
46.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76857

Population: 2,118

💰 Median Household Income
$46,047
This area
$46,047
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.4%
This area
30.4%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.9%
This area
17.9%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.7 years
This area
45.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
46.6%
This area
46.6%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
👶 Under 18
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
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 76857

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.8:1 Avg Class Size
$17,349 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

MAY EL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
137 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,349 Per Student
A Very Good

MAY H S

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
129 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,349 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 tenant pool like in May, TX?

Tenant quality in May, TX ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $972/mo.

Are eviction rules reasonable in May, TX?

The landlord environment in May, TX is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the median home value in May, TX?

Median home price in May, TX is near $111K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What are vacancy rates like in May, TX?

Rental vacancy in May, TX is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is house hacking profitable in May, TX?

House hacking in May, TX is a challenging. With home values around $111K and rents at $972/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 76857 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 76857 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 76857 ranks in Brownwood, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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