Real Estate Investing in Waco, Texas (76704)

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

McLennan County • Population: 7,387 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76704 (Waco, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -0.4% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 57.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $19,966 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Waco, TX (76704)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $112,314
Avg Monthly Rent $1,423
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $19,966
% Renters 67.4%

Market Analysis: 76704 Waco

Within McLennan County, the 76704 ZIP shows a lower entry point around $112K. From a cash-flow lens, operators who can improve stock here typically see outsized uplift.

In 76704, the deal is made on the buy and on the capex. robust entry prices of $112K leave room in the budget for light-to-medium renovation, with rent lift to match.

Across TX, value-add opportunity tends to concentrate where housing stock is older and entry prices are below the state median. ZIP 76704 stands at both traits clearly.

The a solid fit for angle on demographics here is renter willingness to pay a premium for renovated product. The 67% rental share provides scale for the strategy.

The strategy in 76704 is forced equity, not market equity. In practical terms, entry prices are accommodating at $112K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Waco:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 49/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,423/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 76704

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
10.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$45,256/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $66,105 $1,000 10.9% +4.2% $66,105
2BR $90,512 $1,240 9.9% +7.2% $45,256
3BR $142,224 $1,600 8.1% +7.2% $47,408
4BR $181,733 $1,650 6.5% $45,433

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$141K$123K$104K$85K$66K$48KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,609$1,559$1,509$1,458$1,408$1,358May 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76704 Compare?

Metric 76704 Waco Waco, TX Texas
Home Value $112,314 $120,642 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 4.2% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,423 $1,382 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.9% 5.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 76704? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,423/mo on homes averaging $112,314 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

67% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 76704 (Waco, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.9%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-0.4%
Declining

📉 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 $112,314
Monthly Rent $1,423
Price-to-Rent 6.6:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 15.2%
Cap Rate 9.9%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.9%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
14.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76704

Population: 7,387

💰 Median Household Income
$19,966
This area
$19,966
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
67.4%
This area
67.4%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.1 years
This area
29.1 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 66.3%
White 22.2%
Other/Mixed 11.5%
Hispanic/Latino 7.3%
👶 Under 18
33.1%
This area
33.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.3%
This area
12.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
57.3%
This area
57.3%
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 76704

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,397 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

G W CARVER MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

AUDRE AND BERNARD RAPOPORT ACADEMY

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary Charter
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,640 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J H HINES EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PAUL AND JANE MEYER PUBLIC H S

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
227 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,640 Per Student
B+ Above Average

QUINN CAMPUS PUBLIC MIDDLE

📚 05 – 08 School Charter
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,640 Per Student
B Good

G L WILEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER

📚 01 – 12 K-12
👥
77 Students
👨‍🏫
5.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
C+ Average

BILL LOGUE DETENTION CENTER

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

CHALLENGE ACADEMY

📚 08 – 10 High School Limited Data
👥
3 Students
💰
$11,695 Per Student

Nearby Schools (4 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

KENDRICK EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 500 N UNIVERSITY PARKS DR, WACO
👥
469 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
A Very Good

PROVIDENT HEIGHTS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2415 BOSQUE BLVD, WACO
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WEST AVENUE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1101 N 15TH ST, WACO
👥
276 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

DEAN HIGHLAND EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3300 MAPLE, WACO
👥
597 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 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

4 Nearby 5,693 Off-Campus Students
B
Baylor University
20,824 students · 2.0 mi
C
McLennan Community College
7,217 students · 2.9 mi
D
Southern Careers Institute-Waco
205 students · 4.5 mi
C+
Texas State Technical College
11,436 students · 5.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,693 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What investment strategy works best in Waco, TX?

For Waco, TX, value-add and BRRRR deals is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Does the 1% rule work in Waco, TX?

With rents of $1,423/mo on $112K homes, Waco, TX close to the 1% rule for most properties. The actual rent-to-price ratio is 1.27%.

Where do home prices stand in Waco, TX?

The median home value in Waco, TX is roughly $112K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TX statewide average.

How does Waco, TX rate as a rental market?

The 4.0/5 investability rating in Waco, TX reflects its $112K prices and $1,423/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TX.

Is Waco, TX good for house hacking?

For house hackers, Waco, TX is an attractive. The $1,423/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $112K property.

You know 76704 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 76704 ranks in Waco, TX

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