Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77039)

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

Harris County • Population: 28,335 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77039 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated poverty: 24.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77039)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $188,218
Avg Monthly Rent $1,320
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,988
% Renters 41.8%

Market Analysis: 77039 Houston

ZIP 77039 inside Harris County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $188K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 77039 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 77039 among TX's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 77039 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 77039 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,320/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 77039

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$51,440/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $113,545 $1,350 8.6% +4.5% $56,773
3BR $182,391 $1,820 7.2% +5.7% $60,797
4BR $210,536 $2,260 7.7% +5.6% $52,634
5BR $257,201 +6.4% $51,440

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$204K$174K$144K$114K$84K$54KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,498$1,447$1,397$1,347$1,296$1,246Jun 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77039 Compare?

Metric 77039 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $188,218 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,320 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77039? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 77039 (Houston, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 77039 (Houston, TX)?

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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
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $188,218
Monthly Rent $1,320
Price-to-Rent 11.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.4%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77039

Population: 28,335

💰 Median Household Income
$41,988
This area
$41,988
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.8%
This area
41.8%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.8%
This area
5.8%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.6 years
This area
31.6 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.2%
Other/Mixed 32.8%
Hispanic/Latino 32.3%
Black/African American 8.7%
Asian 2.3%
👶 Under 18
30.4%
This area
30.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.2%
This area
10.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
24.5%
This area
24.5%
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 77039

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,793 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

OLESON EL

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

RAYMOND EL

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

HAMBRICK MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
939 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MEAD MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
960 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

AVALOS P-TECH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

HINOJOSA EC/PK/K

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
531 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

REED ACADEMY

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
664 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

STEPHENS EL

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

GRANTHAM ACADEMY

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,096 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

NORTH CENTRAL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
857 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,372 Per Student
B Good

TWO DIMENSIONS/VICKERY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,986 Per Student
B Good

VARDEMAN EC/PK/K

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
603 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 Per Student
B Good

YES PREP - NORTH CENTRAL

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
999 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,372 Per Student
C Below Average

MACARTHUR H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
3,573 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,943 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
C
Fortis Institute
332 students · 3.8 mi
D
Interactive College of Technology
48 students · 4.5 mi
C
Tulsa Welding School-Houston
1,799 students · 5.2 mi
D
Remington College-North Houston Campus
163 students · 5.6 mi
C+
Houston Barber School
225 students · 5.9 mi
D
Culinary Institute Inc
334 students · 6.3 mi
D
Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc.
1,823 students · 7.0 mi
D
Trend Barber College
90 students · 7.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Houston, TX?

The typical rental in Houston, TX commands about $1,320/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $188K purchase basis.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Houston, TX?

TX law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Houston inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Is Houston, TX a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Houston, TX at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $188K and rents around $1,320/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Houston, TX?

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

What kind of tenants rent in Houston, TX?

Tenant quality in Houston, TX ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,320/mo.

You know 77039 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 77039 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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