Real Estate Investing in Driftwood, Texas (78619)

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

Hays County • Population: 6,896 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78619 (Driftwood, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.5% CAGR).

What’s happening in Driftwood, TX (78619)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $942,484
Avg Monthly Rent $3,250
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $171,398
% Renters 9.0%

Market Analysis: 78619 Driftwood

ZIP 78619 inside Hays County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $942K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 78619 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $942K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

From a cash-flow lens, 78619 offers a low basis, the region around Driftwood has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 78619 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Driftwood:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,250/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
89 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.5%
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 Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 78619

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$219,888/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $766,502 $2,240 2.1% +7.6% $255,501
4BR $949,168 $2,600 2.0% +7.5% $237,292
5BR $1,099,440 +7.3% $219,888

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.2M$998K$822K$645K$468K$292KJan 2007Oct 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 78619 Compare?

Metric 78619 Driftwood Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Texas
Home Value $942,484 $942,484 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 1.5% 1.5% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $3,250 $3,250 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
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 78619 (Driftwood, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Hays County

Manage rentals here? List your business →
Jenkins Property Management
Dripping Springs, TX

Jenkins Property Management provides property management services. summary from their website

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Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
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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
Fair
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $942,484
Monthly Rent $3,250
Price-to-Rent 24.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 4.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
4.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.5%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78619

Population: 6,896

💰 Median Household Income
$171,398
This area
$171,398
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.0%
This area
9.0%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
54.5%
This area
54.5%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.6 years
This area
44.6 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
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 78619

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.9:1 Avg Class Size
$18,952 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

CYPRESS SPRINGS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
665 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,269 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PATHFINDER CAMP

📚 05 – 12 High School Charter
👥
13 Students
👨‍🏫
4.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,635 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

What are rental rates like in Driftwood, TX?

Expect rents around $3,250/mo per month in Driftwood, TX. With home values at $942K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Driftwood, TX?

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

Is Driftwood, TX a good place for real estate investing?

Driftwood, TX scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $942K and rents near $3,250/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What does house hacking look like in Driftwood, TX?

Driftwood, TX offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $3,250/mo rent level.

Is Driftwood, TX better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Driftwood, TX. With home values at $942K and rents near $3,250/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 78619 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78619 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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How 78619 ranks in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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