Real Estate Investing in Castroville, Texas (78009)

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

Medina County • Population: 9,494 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 78009 (Castroville, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 12.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.1 — 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 Castroville, TX (78009)?

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.
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 $461,391
Avg Monthly Rent $1,197
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,732
% Renters 15.6%

Market Analysis: 78009 Castroville

The 78009 ZIP covers a section of Castroville that demands careful diligence. Prices near $461K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,197/mo on a $461K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 78009 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within TX, ZIP 78009 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Medina County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

The 78009 ZIP's population of 9,494 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 78009 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 Castroville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,197/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
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
88 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.7%
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 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 78009

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$129,630/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $266,620 $1,330 3.6% $133,310
3BR $388,891 $1,750 3.2% +6.4% $129,630
4BR $605,891 $1,760 2.1% +8.4% $151,473

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$488K$427K$367K$307K$247K$187KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78009 Compare?

Metric 78009 Castroville San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Texas
Home Value $461,391 $461,391 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,197 $1,197 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78009? 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.
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 78009 (Castroville, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 78009 (Castroville, TX)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $461,391
Monthly Rent $1,197
Price-to-Rent 32.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 5.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
12.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78009

Population: 9,494

💰 Median Household Income
$98,732
This area
$98,732
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.3%
This area
31.3%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.3 years
This area
42.3 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 59.6%
Other/Mixed 34.4%
Hispanic/Latino 31.8%
Black/African American 4.4%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 78009

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.2:1 Avg Class Size
$12,646 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

CASTROVILLE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
645 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,646 Per Student
B Good

MEDINA VALLEY MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,069 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,646 Per Student
C+ Average

MEDINA VALLEY H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,412 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,646 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

2 Nearby 3,987 Off-Campus Students
C
Northwest Vista College
18,808 students · 13.2 mi
C
Hallmark University
879 students · 14.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,987 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I house hack in Castroville, TX?

Castroville, TX offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,197/mo rent level.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Castroville, TX?

Occupancy in Castroville, TX runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,197/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Should investors consider Castroville, TX?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Castroville, TX ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $461K and rents of $1,197/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Castroville, TX good for landlords?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Castroville, TX?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Castroville, TX. The rental market absorbs $1,197/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 78009 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78009 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 78009 ranks in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 78009 (Castroville)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 78009 (Castroville, TX).

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