Real Estate Investing in San Antonio, Texas (78238)

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

Bexar County • Population: 26,250 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78238 (San Antonio, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in San Antonio, TX (78238)?

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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 $223,767
Avg Monthly Rent $1,244
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,287
% Renters 52.5%

Market Analysis: 78238 San Antonio

The 78238 ZIP in San Antonio, TX is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $224K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 78238 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $224K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in San Antonio have seen price recovery that 78238 has not matched. Bexar County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 78238 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 78238 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 San Antonio:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,244/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 78238

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$60,703/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $213,585 $1,670 5.6% +4.5% $71,195
4BR $242,810 $1,940 5.8% +4.4% $60,703
5BR $304,717 +5.2% $60,943

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$246K$215K$184K$152K$121K$90KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,269$1,206$1,143$1,080$1,017$954Dec 2019Apr 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78238 Compare?

Metric 78238 San Antonio San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Texas
Home Value $223,767 $279,541 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 2.2% 1.3% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,244 $1,452 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78238? Click to expand

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

53% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 78238 (San Antonio, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Bexar County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Forefront Property Management offers residential, multi-family, and commercial property management services in San Antonio, aiming to simplify property ownership. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercial
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Hill Country Homeowners Association Management specializes in personalized financial and administrative management services for homeowner's associations in San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. summary from their website

HOA
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PMI San Antonio offers residential and commercial property management services in San Antonio, including marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, and financial reporting. summary from their website

Single-familyCommercial
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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
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.2%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $223,767
Monthly Rent $1,244
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 6.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
8.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78238

Population: 26,250

💰 Median Household Income
$54,287
This area
$54,287
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.5%
This area
52.5%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.7 years
This area
34.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 48.0%
Other/Mixed 41.6%
Hispanic/Latino 37.9%
Black/African American 5.8%
Asian 4.7%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.6%
This area
14.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
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 78238

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$12,891 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

LINTON EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
B+ Above Average

DRIGGERS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
B+ Above Average

POWELL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SOUTHWEST PREP NORTHWEST EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
85 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,260 Per Student
B+ Above Average

THE GATHERING PLACE

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
618 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,798 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NEFF MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
880 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SCARBOROUGH EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
921 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
B Good

SOUTHWEST PREPARATORY SCHOOL-NORTHWEST

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
136 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,260 Per Student
B Good

SST DISCOVERY

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
554 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,485 Per Student
C+ Average

HOLMES H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,568 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,257 Per Student
C+ Average

NISD PKSA

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
147 Students
💰
$13,257 Per Student
C Below Average

JUBILEE SENDERO

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter Limited Data
💰
$13,552 Per Student
C Below Average

NISD BEXAR COUNTY JJA

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
59 Students
💰
$13,257 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

PREMIER HIGH SCHOOL-SAN ANTONIO INGRAM

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
112 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$7,056 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
Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram
349 students · 0.6 mi
D
Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio
939 students · 1.0 mi
C
Lamson Institute
443 students · 1.0 mi
C
Vogue College of Cosmetology
136 students · 1.0 mi
D
Concorde Career College-San Antonio
122 students · 2.6 mi
D
The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio
718 students · 2.8 mi
C
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
3,206 students · 3.2 mi
C
St. Mary's University
3,411 students · 3.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits San Antonio, TX?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in San Antonio, TX. With home values at $224K and rents near $1,244/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in San Antonio, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in San Antonio, TX. Rents at $1,244/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is San Antonio in TX worth investing in?

Our data puts San Antonio, TX at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $224K and rents around $1,244/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is TX a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in San Antonio, TX is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Are renters plentiful in San Antonio, TX?

Working renters make up the core of the San Antonio, TX tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 78238 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 78238 ranks in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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