Real Estate Investing in Ballinger, Texas (76821)

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

Runnels County • Population: 4,572 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76821 (Ballinger, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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 (52/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 22.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.2% CAGR).

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

What’s happening in Ballinger, TX (76821)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $139,595
Avg Monthly Rent $1,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,924
% Renters 27.8%

Market Analysis: 76821 Ballinger

Investors eyeing 76821 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $140K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 76821 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

On balance, 76821 offers a low basis, the region around Ballinger has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Meanwhile, 4,572 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.

New investors are better served looking at Ballinger's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 76821. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Ballinger:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,017/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$163K$145K$127K$109K$91K$73KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76821 Compare?

Metric 76821 Ballinger Texas
Home Value $139,595 $139,595 $297,000
5-Year CAGR 0.2% 0.2% 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,017 $1,017 -
Cap Rate 5.7% 5.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 76821? 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 76821 (Ballinger, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.2%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $139,595
Monthly Rent $1,017
Price-to-Rent 11.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.7%
Cap Rate 5.7%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.7%). 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
22.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.2%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76821

Population: 4,572

💰 Median Household Income
$60,924
This area
$60,924
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.8%
This area
27.8%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.2 years
This area
42.2 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.7%
Other/Mixed 15.3%
Hispanic/Latino 11.0%
Black/African American 5.0%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
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 76821

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,750 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

BALLINGER EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

BALLINGER H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
239 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

BALLINGER J H

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
180 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 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

Does Ballinger, TX make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Ballinger, TX reflects its $140K prices and $1,017/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TX.

How strong are rents in Ballinger, TX?

The typical rental in Ballinger, TX commands about $1,017/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $140K purchase basis.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Ballinger, TX?

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

Can I house hack in Ballinger, TX?

Ballinger, TX is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $140K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the tenant pool like in Ballinger, TX?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Ballinger, TX. The rental market absorbs $1,017/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 76821 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 76821 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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