Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77002)

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

Harris County • Population: 19,616 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 77002 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 20.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.5% in the last year.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77002)?

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.
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 $246,154
Avg Monthly Rent $1,779
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,292
% Renters 89.9%

Market Analysis: 77002 Houston

The 77002 ZIP covers a section of Houston that demands careful diligence. Prices near $246K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 77002 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $246K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Stepping back, 77002 offers a low basis, the region around Houston has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 77002 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. significant returns are possible in 77002, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Houston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,779/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
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
79 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.2%
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 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 77002

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+2.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$150,914/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $213,383 $1,980 6.7% +0.3% $213,383
2BR $320,971 $2,360 5.3% -0.4% $160,485
3BR $452,741 $3,170 5.0% +2.9% $150,914

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$299K$273K$247K$221K$195K$169KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,005$1,925$1,846$1,766$1,687$1,607Mar 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77002 Compare?

Metric 77002 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $246,154 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,779 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77002? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

90% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 77002 (Houston, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 77002 (Houston, TX)?

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

Property managers serving Harris County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

SBB Community Management provides Texas HOA management services, including financial management, property maintenance, and technology solutions, serving Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston since 1974. summary from their website

HOACommercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

KPM Property Management offers end-to-end solutions including pre-acquisition due diligence, on-site property management, and development of townhomes in the Houston area. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

SBB Community Management provides Texas HOA management services for homeowners associations, condominium associations, and master-planned communities across Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. summary from their website

HOACommercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
-1.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $246,154
Monthly Rent $1,779
Price-to-Rent 11.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.7%
Cap Rate 5.6%
5-Year IRR 4.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.9% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.6%). 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
20.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77002

Population: 19,616

💰 Median Household Income
$78,292
This area
$78,292
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
89.9%
This area
89.9%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.3 years
This area
35.3 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 43.1%
Black/African American 33.3%
Other/Mixed 18.9%
Hispanic/Latino 15.1%
Asian 4.7%
👶 Under 18
1.9%
This area
1.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
3.7%
This area
3.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
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 77002

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,947 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
113 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,475 Per Student
B+ Above Average

KINDER H S FOR PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
769 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

SCHOOL FOR ACCELERATED LRN

📚 09 – 11 High School Limited Data
👥
6 Students
💰
$12,850 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

BLACKSHEAR EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2900 HOLMAN AVE, HOUSTON
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

GREGORY-LINCOLN ED CTR

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 1101 TAFT, HOUSTON
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

LOCKHART EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3200 ROSEDALE ST, HOUSTON
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

YATES H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3650 ALABAMA ST, HOUSTON
👥
781 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

LOOSCAN EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3800 ROBERTSON ST, HOUSTON
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 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

8 Nearby 33,841 Off-Campus Students
C
South Texas College of Law Houston
1,036 students · 0.2 mi
C
University of Houston-Downtown
14,105 students · 0.8 mi
C+
Houston Community College
49,749 students · 1.2 mi
C
University of St Thomas
3,813 students · 2.2 mi
C
Texas Southern University
8,469 students · 2.5 mi
B
University of Houston
46,676 students · 2.8 mi
D
University of Houston-System Administration
0 students · 2.8 mi
A
Rice University
8,556 students · 3.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 33,841 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Houston, TX?

Rental rates in Houston, TX average $1,779/mo. Tenant demand and $246K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How strong is the working-renter base in Houston, TX?

The renter base in Houston, TX is reasonable for the $1,779/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

What price range are homes in Houston, TX?

The median home value in Houston, TX is roughly $246K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TX statewide average.

Is TX a landlord-friendly state?

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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Houston, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in Houston, TX. Rents at $1,779/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 77002 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 77002 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 77002 ranks in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 77002 (Houston)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 77002 (Houston, TX).

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