Real Estate Investing in Houston, Texas (77049)

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

Harris County • Population: 40,373 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77049 (Houston, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Houston, TX (77049)?

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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 $242,295
Avg Monthly Rent $1,358
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,736
% Renters 31.7%

Market Analysis: 77049 Houston

ZIP 77049 in Houston, TX carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $242K and rents of $1,358/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $242K asset, 77049 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within TX, ZIP 77049 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Harris County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 77049 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 77049, 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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,358/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 77049

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
7.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+5.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$67,678/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $162,540 $1,690 7.5% +5.7% $81,270
3BR $219,061 $2,270 7.5% +5.3% $73,020
4BR $270,713 $2,840 7.6% +5.2% $67,678
5BR $339,284 +5.2% $67,857

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$261K$226K$191K$157K$122K$87KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,517$1,476$1,435$1,394$1,353$1,312Nov 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77049 Compare?

Metric 77049 Houston Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Texas
Home Value $242,295 $318,356 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 2.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,358 $1,555 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 77049? Click to expand

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

📊 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 77049 (Houston, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 77049 (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
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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
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $242,295
Monthly Rent $1,358
Price-to-Rent 14.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
6.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77049

Population: 40,373

💰 Median Household Income
$70,736
This area
$70,736
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.7%
This area
31.7%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
27.8 years
This area
27.8 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 40.5%
Other/Mixed 38.9%
Hispanic/Latino 36.8%
Black/African American 16.4%
Asian 4.3%
👶 Under 18
33.7%
This area
33.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
5.8%
This area
5.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
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 77049

B Avg School Grade
21 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,707 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

HARVEY S BROWN EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
625 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,867 Per Student
A Very Good

DR SHIRLEY J WILLIAMSON EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
A Very Good

PURPLE SAGE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
455 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
A Very Good

THE RHODES SCHOOL - NORTHSHORE CAMPUS

📚 Pre-K – 06 School Charter
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,936 Per Student
B+ Above Average

AGUIRRE J H

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
932 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,867 Per Student
B+ Above Average

COBB 6TH GRADE CAMPUS

📚 Grade 06 Middle
👥
981 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CUNNINGHAM MIDDLE

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
897 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
B+ Above Average

JAMES B HAVARD EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
704 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SHELDON EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SHELDON EL

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TICE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
679 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
B Good

ROYALWOOD EL

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
618 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,236 Per Student
B Good

NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
4,534 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
C+ Average

IDEA LAKE HOUSTON ACADEMY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
24.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,965 Per Student
C+ Average

IDEA LAKE HOUSTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
24.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,965 Per Student
C+ Average

GALENA PARK ISD CAREER & TECHNICAL ECHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
34.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,150 Per Student
C Below Average

HIGH POINT EAST

📚 09 – 11 High School Limited Data
👥
7 Students
💰
$14,236 Per Student
C Below Average

HIGHPOINT EAST

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
25 Students
💰
$15,281 Per Student
C Below Average

HIGHPOINT SCHOOL EAST (DAEP)

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
10 Students
💰
$15,150 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

HIGHPOINT

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
13 Students
💰
$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 34,501 Off-Campus Students
C
Houston Training School-Main Campus
220 students · 7.1 mi
D
Interactive College of Technology
62 students · 10.7 mi
D
Texas Chiropractic College Foundation Inc
267 students · 11.8 mi
C+
San Jacinto Community College
31,494 students · 12.2 mi
C
Lee College
8,143 students · 12.4 mi
C
Elite Welding Academy
29 students · 12.9 mi
C
University of Houston-Downtown
14,105 students · 13.5 mi
D
Culinary Institute Inc
334 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 34,501 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in Houston, TX?

Rents in Houston, TX run near $1,358/mo. Compared with median home prices of $242K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Houston, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in Houston, TX. Rents at $1,358/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What are home prices like in Houston, TX?

Expect median prices around $242K in Houston, TX. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

Is TX a landlord-friendly state?

Houston, TX falls under TX landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How strong is tenant demand in Houston, TX?

The renter base in Houston, TX is reasonable for the $1,358/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

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How 77049 ranks in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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