Real Estate Investing in Zapata, Texas (78076)

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

Zapata County • Population: 13,085 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78076 (Zapata, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 23.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -5.9% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 32.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $34,779 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Zapata, TX (78076)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $128,740
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $34,779
% Renters 26.7%

Market Analysis: 78076 Zapata

ZIP 78076 in Zapata, TX carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $129K and rents of $873/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $873/mo on a $129K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 78076 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Looking more closely, 78076 offers a low basis, the region around Zapata has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 78076 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 78076 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 Zapata:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 47/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Zapata, TX Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
2.2%
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 Zapata, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$182K$166K$150K$135K$119K$103KOct 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78076 Compare?

Metric 78076 Zapata Zapata, TX Texas
Home Value $128,740 $128,740 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.3% 5.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78076? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 78076 (Zapata, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
-5.9%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Zapata, TX metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $128,740
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 12.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -5.9% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.3%). 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
23.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-5.9%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78076

Population: 13,085

💰 Median Household Income
$34,779
This area
$34,779
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.7%
This area
26.7%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.4%
This area
11.4%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.5 years
This area
30.5 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.1%
This area
23.1%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 53.5%
Other/Mixed 46.3%
Hispanic/Latino 45.6%
Asian 0.2%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
32.3%
This area
32.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
32.4%
This area
32.4%
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 78076

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,496 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

FIDEL AND ANDREA R VILLARREAL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,496 Per Student
A Very Good

ZAPATA MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
750 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,496 Per Student
A Very Good

ZAPATA SOUTH EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,496 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ZAPATA NORTH EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
575 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,496 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ZAPATA H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,068 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,496 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly do rentals get leased in Zapata, TX?

Vacancy risk in Zapata, TX is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

How does Zapata, TX stack up for property investment?

Yes - Zapata, TX a 3.0/5 investability score. With $129K home prices against $873/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How much does a house cost in Zapata, TX?

Homes in Zapata, TX typically sell near $129K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

How strict are landlord regulations in Zapata, TX?

Rental owners in Zapata, TX deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Is the tenant base reliable in Zapata, TX?

Tenant demand in Zapata, TX is solid. The local workforce $873/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 78076 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78076 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.

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