Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77046)

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

Harris County • Population: 1,873 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77046 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -2.9% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77046)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $320,370
Avg Monthly Rent $1,553
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $145,567
% Renters 45.8%

Market Analysis: 77046 Houston

The 77046 ZIP in Houston, TX is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $320K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 77046 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 77046 among TX's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 77046 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Houston's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 77046. 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 Houston:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,553/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$401K$358K$315K$272K$230K$187KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,791$1,720$1,649$1,579$1,508$1,437Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77046 Compare?

Metric 77046 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $320,370 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,553 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77046? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 77046 (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
Fair
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
-2.9%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $320,370
Monthly Rent $1,553
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 0.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.9% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
12.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.9%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77046

Population: 1,873

💰 Median Household Income
$145,567
This area
$145,567
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.8%
This area
45.8%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
67.3%
This area
67.3%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.7 years
This area
62.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.6%
Black/African American 15.9%
Other/Mixed 10.2%
Asian 9.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
0.6%
This area
0.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
47.8%
This area
47.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 77046

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

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
B+ Above Average

CONDIT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 7000 S THIRD, BELLAIRE
👥
733 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ELLA J BAKER MONTESSORI SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2100 YUPON ST, HOUSTON
👥
617 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B+ Above Average

HARVARD EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 810 HARVARD ST, HOUSTON
👥
673 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MANDARIN IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 5445 W ALABAMA, HOUSTON
👥
792 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 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 8,357 Off-Campus Students
C
Vet Tech Institute of Houston
190 students · 1.4 mi
A
Rice University
8,556 students · 2.2 mi
C
University of St Thomas
3,813 students · 2.4 mi
C
Baylor College of Medicine
1,699 students · 2.8 mi
C+
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
5,048 students · 2.8 mi
C
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
355 students · 2.9 mi
C+
Houston Community College
49,749 students · 3.4 mi
C
College of Health Care Professions
529 students · 3.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,357 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Houston, TX?

Rents in Houston, TX run near $1,553/mo. Compared with median home prices of $320K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Where do home prices stand in Houston, TX?

Houston, TX home values average about $320K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,553/mo in monthly income.

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

For Houston, TX, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Houston, TX?

Rental vacancy in Houston, TX is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How strict are landlord regulations in Houston, TX?

Houston, TX operates under TX law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

You know 77046 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 77046 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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