Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77012)

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

Harris County • Population: 16,780 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77012 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -0.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.6% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77012)?

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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 $155,013
Avg Monthly Rent $1,875
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $45,784
% Renters 62.0%

Market Analysis: 77012 Houston

Houston's 77012 ZIP reads as a dependable submarket. Home values of $155K and rents of $1,875/mo have tracked regional norms inside Harris County with little deviation.

For core-plus portfolios, 77012 is the kind of ZIP that fills out the weighted average. substantial on the fundamentals, light on the surprises.

Statewide context places 77012 firmly in the middle ring — neither an appreciation leader nor a yield standout, but consistent across cycles.

The resident base in 77012 has held steady over the past decade. A population of 16,780, a renter share near 62%, and a household-income profile tracking the county median all suggest a a strong candidate for demographic foundation.

Long-term rentals, modest house hacks, and passive investments all fit 77012. The ZIP rewards patience and discipline more than creativity.

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 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,875/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 77012

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+2.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$49,651/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $96,856 $900 6.7% +0.5% $96,856
2BR $138,937 $1,070 5.5% +0.9% $69,468
3BR $172,615 $1,440 6.0% +1.7% $57,538
4BR $198,602 $1,790 6.5% +2.1% $49,651

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$193K$163K$134K$105K$76K$47KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,921$1,788$1,654$1,521$1,387$1,254Oct 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 77012 Compare?

Metric 77012 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $155,013 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,875 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.4% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77012? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,875/mo on homes averaging $155,013 — 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.

62% 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 77012 (Houston, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.4%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-0.6%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $155,013
Monthly Rent $1,875
Price-to-Rent 6.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 14.5%
Cap Rate 9.4%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.4%) 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
14.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77012

Population: 16,780

💰 Median Household Income
$45,784
This area
$45,784
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
62.0%
This area
62.0%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.2 years
This area
33.2 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.3%
This area
14.3%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 65.4%
Hispanic/Latino 64.1%
White 29.6%
Black/African American 4.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.6%
This area
12.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.6%
This area
20.6%
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 77012

B Avg School Grade
12 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$13,084 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

DEADY MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

HARRIS J R EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

DE ZAVALA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

DAVILA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
416 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

SOUTHMAYD EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CRESPO EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
526 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SANCHEZ EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
432 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B Good

YES PREP EAST END EL

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary Charter
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,372 Per Student
B Good

YES PREP - EAST END

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
994 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,372 Per Student
C+ Average

MILBY H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,179 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
C Below Average

HOUSTON GATEWAY ACADEMY INC ELITE COLLEGE PREP

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$8,072 Per Student
C Below Average

HOUSTON GATEWAY ACADEMY - CORAL CAMPUS

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
926 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$8,072 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 16,937 Off-Campus Students
C
Elite Welding Academy
29 students · 1.9 mi
C
Houston Training School-Main Campus
220 students · 4.1 mi
B
University of Houston
46,676 students · 4.1 mi
D
University of Houston-System Administration
0 students · 4.1 mi
D
Interactive College of Technology
62 students · 4.1 mi
C
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston
281 students · 4.2 mi
C
Texas Southern University
8,469 students · 5.2 mi
C
South Texas College of Law Houston
1,036 students · 5.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 16,937 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 $1,875/mo. Tenant demand and $155K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Houston, TX better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Houston, TX investors pursuing steady buy-and-hold investing. The underlying economics ($155K prices, $1,875/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Houston, TX?

For rental operators, Houston, TX rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Houston, TX suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Houston, TX is an attractive. The $1,875/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $155K property.

What is the median home value in Houston, TX?

Typical homes in Houston, TX go for around $155K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

You know 77012 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 77012 ranks in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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