Real Estate Investing in Santa Fe, Texas (77517)

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

Galveston • Population: 5,665 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 77517 (Santa Fe, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Higher unemployment: 10.6% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Santa Fe, TX (77517)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $393,837
Avg Monthly Rent $1,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,618
% Renters 10.1%

Market Analysis: 77517 Santa Fe

This part of Galveston is not an easy win. The 77517 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,035/mo on a $394K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 77517 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 77517 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 77517 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 77517 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Santa Fe:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,035/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 77517

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$118,453/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $236,906 $1,150 3.5% +7.0% $118,453
3BR $363,518 $1,530 3.0% +6.6% $121,173
4BR $500,365 $1,920 2.8% +6.7% $125,091

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$413K$357K$301K$246K$190K$134KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 77517 Compare?

Metric 77517 Santa Fe Texas
Home Value $393,837 $363,415 $297,000
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.5% 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,035 $1,443 -
Cap Rate 2.1% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 77517? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 77517 (Santa Fe, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $393,837
Monthly Rent $1,035
Price-to-Rent 31.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
1.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 77517

Population: 5,665

💰 Median Household Income
$81,618
This area
$81,618
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.0%
Other/Mixed 10.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.4%
👶 Under 18
26.2%
This area
26.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.4%
This area
9.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
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 77517

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,770 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

SANTA FE H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,374 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,770 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

ROY J WOLLAM EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3400 AVE S, SANTA FE
👥
614 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,770 Per Student
B Good

DAN J KUBACAK EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4131 WARPATH, SANTA FE
👥
710 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,770 Per Student
B Good

WILLIAM F BARNETT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 11818 HWY 1764, SANTA FE
👥
675 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,770 Per Student
B Good

COASTAL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (CAP)

📚 09 – 10 High School
📍 13302 HWY 6, SANTA FE
👥
5 Students
👨‍🏫
1.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,045 Per Student
B Good

SANTA FE J H

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 4132 WARPATH AVE, SANTA FE
👥
1,012 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,770 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

4 Nearby 3,262 Off-Campus Students
C+
Alvin Community College
5,830 students · 6.7 mi
C+
College of the Mainland
4,961 students · 8.6 mi
D
Remington College-Houston Southeast Campus
65 students · 9.6 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Clear Lake
129 students · 11.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,262 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical renter like in Santa Fe, TX?

Santa Fe, TX offers a even-keeled renter base at the $1,035/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Santa Fe, TX?

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

What is the typical home price in Santa Fe, TX?

In Santa Fe, TX the median home value sits at $394K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Santa Fe, TX?

Santa Fe, TX sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader TX rental market.

How much do tenants pay in Santa Fe, TX?

Expect rents around $1,035/mo per month in Santa Fe, TX. With home values at $394K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 77517 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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