Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77020)

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

Harris County • Population: 25,583 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 77020 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 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
  • Declining values: -0.4% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77020)?

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.
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 $161,655
Avg Monthly Rent $1,824
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $46,606
% Renters 48.2%

Market Analysis: 77020 Houston

Predictable is the word. ZIP 77020 sits at $162K median values, $1,824/mo rent, and a 0.0% trajectory that has not surprised anyone in a while.

What you underwrite in 77020 is what you tend to get. That is harder to find than most investors admit, and it is why this ZIP earns its place in diversified rental portfolios.

The resilient case for 77020 regionally is its consistency — the ZIP has tracked TX trends without outsized volatility in either direction.

Household composition in 77020 has evolved slowly rather than dramatically, which is exactly what stable markets look like under the hood.

Operators who want a low-touch, long-hold rental inside Houston should take 77020 seriously. Neither the rent nor the price is going to surprise anyone, and that is precisely the point.

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: 63/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,824/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 77020

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
7.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+4.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$46,574/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $119,866 $930 5.6% +4.8% $119,866
2BR $127,170 $1,110 6.3% +2.2% $63,585
3BR $199,762 $1,490 5.4% +2.5% $66,587
4BR $186,295 $1,860 7.2% +2.4% $46,574

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$203K$173K$143K$113K$83K$53KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,168$2,067$1,967$1,866$1,765$1,664Nov 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77020 Compare?

Metric 77020 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $161,655 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,824 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.8% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77020? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,824/mo on homes averaging $161,655 — 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.

A healthy rental market with 48% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 77020 (Houston, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 77020 (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
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.8%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-0.4%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $161,655
Monthly Rent $1,824
Price-to-Rent 7.4:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.5%
Cap Rate 8.8%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.8%) 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
9.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77020

Population: 25,583

💰 Median Household Income
$46,606
This area
$46,606
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
48.2%
This area
48.2%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.7 years
This area
35.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 58.9%
Hispanic/Latino 57.5%
Black/African American 21.7%
White 18.2%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
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 77020

A Avg School Grade
13 Schools
10.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,350 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

ELIOT EL

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

MARTINEZ R EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
423 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

MCREYNOLDS MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

PUGH EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
320 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

WHEATLEY H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

HENDERSON N EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

ATHERTON EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
475 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

BRUCE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
310 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
A Very Good

SCROGGINS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B Good

SECONDARY DAEP

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
59 Students
👨‍🏫
2.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B Good

EL DAEP

📚 Grade 05 Elementary
👥
2 Students
👨‍🏫
1.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B Good

YES PREP - 5TH WARD

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
940 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,372 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
University of Houston-Downtown
14,105 students · 3.0 mi
C
South Texas College of Law Houston
1,036 students · 3.5 mi
C
Houston Training School-Main Campus
220 students · 3.9 mi
B
University of Houston
46,676 students · 3.9 mi
D
University of Houston-System Administration
0 students · 3.9 mi
C+
Houston Community College
49,749 students · 4.5 mi
C
Texas Southern University
8,469 students · 4.5 mi
C
Elite Welding Academy
29 students · 4.7 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Houston, TX?

The typical rental in Houston, TX commands about $1,824/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $162K purchase basis.

Are homes affordable in Houston, TX?

Houston, TX home values average about $162K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,824/mo in monthly income.

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 better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Houston, TX, steady buy-and-hold investing is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is real estate in Houston, TX a good investment right now?

Houston, TX rates 4.0/5 for investability. With median values at $162K and rents near $1,824/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 77020 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 77020 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 77020 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 77020 (Houston)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 77020 (Houston, TX).

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