Real Estate Investing in Valley Mills, Texas (76689)

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

McLennan County • Population: 4,421 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76689 (Valley Mills, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Valley Mills, TX (76689)?

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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 $334,941
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,889
% Renters 17.6%

Market Analysis: 76689 Valley Mills

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Valley Mills's 76689 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $335K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 76689 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $335K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Looking more closely, 76689 offers a low basis, the region around Valley Mills has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The demographic picture in 76689 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Valley Mills averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Valley Mills:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Waco, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
74 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.5%
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 Waco, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 76689

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$117,648/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $270,665 $1,240 3.3% $135,333
3BR $352,943 $1,600 3.3% +9.0% $117,648
4BR $494,044 $1,780 2.6% $123,511

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$354K$305K$257K$208K$160K$111KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76689 Compare?

Metric 76689 Valley Mills Waco, TX Texas
Home Value $334,941 $334,941 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 76689? 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 76689 (Valley Mills, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Waco, TX metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
2/2
74 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $334,941
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 25.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76689

Population: 4,421

💰 Median Household Income
$63,889
This area
$63,889
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.4 years
This area
37.4 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.0%
Other/Mixed 16.5%
Hispanic/Latino 14.6%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
28.7%
This area
28.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 76689

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$15,871 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

VALLEY MILLS H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
206 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,871 Per Student
A Very Good

VALLEY MILLS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,871 Per Student
B+ Above Average

VALLEY MILLS J H

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
147 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,871 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

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Valley Mills, TX?

The house hack math a challenging in Valley Mills, TX. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,116/mo rents and $335K home values.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Valley Mills, TX?

Landlord-friendliness in Valley Mills, TX is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What is the renter demographic in Valley Mills, TX?

Tenant demand in Valley Mills, TX is solid. The local workforce $1,116/mo rents across most rental classes.

How does Valley Mills, TX stack up for property investment?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Valley Mills, TX reflects its $335K prices and $1,116/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TX.

Are homes affordable in Valley Mills, TX?

Typical homes in Valley Mills, TX go for around $335K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

You know 76689 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 76689 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 76689 ranks in Waco, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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