Real Estate Investing in Mertens, Texas (76666)

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

Hill County • Population: 245 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 76666 (Mertens, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (31/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 24.8% 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 Mertens, TX (76666)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $213,798
Avg Monthly Rent $990
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,042
% Renters 43.0%

Market Analysis: 76666 Mertens

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mertens's 76666 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $214K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 76666 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 76666 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 76666 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Mertens averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 76666 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Mertens:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $990/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
Corsicana, 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 Corsicana, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$216K$211K$206K$201K$196K$191KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76666 Compare?

Metric 76666 Mertens Corsicana, TX Texas
Home Value $213,798 $213,798 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $990 $990 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 76666? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 43% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 76666 (Mertens, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 76666 (Mertens, TX)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Corsicana, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $213,798
Monthly Rent $990
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
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: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
24.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76666

Population: 245

💰 Median Household Income
$41,042
This area
$41,042
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
43.0%
This area
43.0%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.4 years
This area
31.4 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.9%
Hispanic/Latino 8.1%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
👶 Under 18
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 608 Off-Campus Students
C
Hill College
4,000 students · 11.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 608 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Mertens, TX?

Vacancy in Mertens, TX is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $990/mo.

Which investment style suits Mertens, TX?

Most investors in Mertens, TX run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 2.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What do rentals go for in Mertens, TX?

Mertens, TX rentals go for roughly $990/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $214K acquisition costs.

Is rental property easy to operate in Mertens, TX?

TX law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Mertens inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How much does a house cost in Mertens, TX?

Median home price in Mertens, TX is near $214K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 76666 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 76666 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.

Compare Plans

How 76666 ranks in Corsicana, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 76666 (Mertens)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 76666 (Mertens, TX).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.