Real Estate Investing in Austin, Texas (78705)

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

Travis County • Population: 32,937 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 78705 (Austin, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (26/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -3.4% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.9% in the last year.
  • Lower household income: $24,126 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Austin, TX (78705)?

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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 $330,339
Avg Monthly Rent $1,778
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $24,126
% Renters 88.1%

Market Analysis: 78705 Austin

ZIP 78705 inside Travis County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $330K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 78705 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 78705 among TX's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 78705 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 78705 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Austin:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 38/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 13.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,778/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 78705

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+3.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$165,874/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $227,045 $1,690 5.4% +1.2% $227,045
2BR $331,749 $2,000 4.3% +0.2% $165,874
3BR $637,368 $2,530 2.9% +3.3% $212,456
4BR $893,702 $2,980 2.4% +3.2% $223,426
5BR $1,009,761 +0.3% $201,952

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$452K$399K$346K$293K$240K$187KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,921$1,782$1,642$1,503$1,363$1,224Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78705 Compare?

Metric 78705 Austin Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Texas
Home Value $330,339 $561,613 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,778 $1,810 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78705? Click to expand

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

88% 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 78705 (Austin, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Travis County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

512-Society Property Management provides single-family and multi-family property management services across North Austin and Round Rock since 2005. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Darwin Homes offers tech-driven property management services, making renting easy with 24/7 support, smart locks for viewings, and assistance with moving and utility setup. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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Guest Haus Property Management offers Airbnb and vacation rental management services in Austin. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
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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
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
-3.4%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $330,339
Monthly Rent $1,778
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 0.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR -3.4% ▼
10-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.8% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-3.4%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78705

Population: 32,937

💰 Median Household Income
$24,126
This area
$24,126
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
88.1%
This area
88.1%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.4%
This area
72.4%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
21.1 years
This area
21.1 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 61.2%
Asian 16.0%
Other/Mixed 13.3%
Hispanic/Latino 9.8%
Black/African American 9.4%
👶 Under 18
1.7%
This area
1.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
2.3%
This area
2.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.5%
This area
18.5%
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 78705

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$26,950 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

LEE EL

📚 K – 06 School
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

GOVALLE EL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 3601 GOVALLE AVE, AUSTIN
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BLACKSHEAR EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1712 E 11TH ST, AUSTIN
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MARTIN MIDDLE

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 1601 HASKELL ST, AUSTIN
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

OAK SPRINGS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3601 WEBBERVILLE RD, AUSTIN
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

ZAVALA EL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 310 ROBERT MARTINEZ JR ST, AUSTIN
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 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 17,729 Off-Campus Students
C
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
168 students · 0.2 mi
C
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
116 students · 0.4 mi
A
The University of Texas at Austin
53,082 students · 0.8 mi
D
The University of Texas System Office
0 students · 1.8 mi
C
Huston-Tillotson University
1,029 students · 2.3 mi
C
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin
372 students · 2.5 mi
C
Austin Community College District
35,600 students · 2.7 mi
C+
CyberTex Institute of Technology
195 students · 3.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 17,729 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin, TX good for house hacking?

Austin, TX offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,778/mo rent level.

Is rental property easy to operate in Austin, TX?

TX law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Austin inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How does Austin, TX rate as a rental market?

Investors tracking Austin, TX will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $330K median home values and $1,778/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting measured returns.

How much rent can I charge in Austin, TX?

Rental rates in Austin, TX average $1,778/mo. Tenant demand and $330K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Austin, TX?

Tenant quality in Austin, TX ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,778/mo.

You know 78705 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78705 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 78705 ranks in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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