Real Estate Investing in Austin, Texas (78729)

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

Williamson County • Population: 30,440 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78729 (Austin, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (38/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Declining values: -1.9% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Austin, TX (78729)?

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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 $429,999
Avg Monthly Rent $1,328
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,889
% Renters 57.7%

Market Analysis: 78729 Austin

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Austin's 78729 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $430K pricing implies.

The 78729 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 78729 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A notable renter share of 58% in 78729 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 78729 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:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,328/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 78729

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$121,459/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $287,831 $1,850 4.6% +1.0% $143,916
3BR $402,765 $2,340 4.2% +4.4% $134,255
4BR $485,835 $2,760 4.1% +5.0% $121,459
5BR $613,925 +5.7% $122,785

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$584K$498K$411K$325K$238K$152KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,684$1,557$1,431$1,305$1,179$1,053Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78729 Compare?

Metric 78729 Austin Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Texas
Home Value $429,999 $561,613 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,328 $1,810 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78729? Click to expand

58% 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 78729 (Austin, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Williamson County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

PS Property Management is an Austin HOA Management Company. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

PURE Property Management of Texas aims to provide simple and satisfying rental experiences for all. summary from their website

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MBM Property Management offers property management services for rentals in various Central Texas communities, including Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Round Rock. summary from their website

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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
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
-1.9%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $429,999
Monthly Rent $1,328
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 0.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.9% ▼
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.8% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78729

Population: 30,440

💰 Median Household Income
$78,889
This area
$78,889
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
57.7%
This area
57.7%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
62.0%
This area
62.0%
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
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 61.7%
Other/Mixed 15.3%
Asian 13.2%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Black/African American 9.7%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.5%
This area
9.5%
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 78729

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
11.0:1 Avg Class Size
$15,721 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

LIVE OAK EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
405 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
A Very Good

POND SPRINGS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
A Very Good

FOREST NORTH EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
A Very Good

JOLLYVILLE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
608 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
B+ Above Average

DEERPARK MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
820 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
B Good

EL DAEP

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
2.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student
B Good

MCNEIL H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,533 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

DAVIS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5214 DUVAL RD, AUSTIN
👥
653 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

SUMMITT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 12207 BRIGADOON LN, AUSTIN
👥
748 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A Very Good

PARMER LANE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1806 PARMER LN, AUSTIN
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,288 Per Student
A Very Good

WESTVIEW MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1805 SCOFIELD LN, AUSTIN
👥
687 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,288 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PEARSON RANCH MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 8901 PEARSON RANCH RD, ROUND ROCK
👥
919 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,721 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
Ann Webb Skin Institute
181 students · 2.6 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus
917 students · 4.1 mi
D
South University-Austin
290 students · 4.2 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Austin
192 students · 5.0 mi
D
Concordia University Texas
1,614 students · 5.4 mi
C
Central Texas Beauty College-Round Rock
93 students · 6.0 mi
C
Avenue Five Institute
267 students · 6.3 mi
D
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas
955 students · 6.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Austin, TX?

Vacancy in Austin, TX is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,328/mo.

Does Austin, TX favor landlords or tenants?

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

What type of investing works in Austin, TX?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Austin, TX best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $430K price point.

What does house hacking look like in Austin, TX?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Austin, TX reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is real estate in Austin, TX a good investment right now?

Austin, TX rates 2.0/5 for investability. With median values at $430K and rents near $1,328/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 78729 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78729 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 78729 ranks in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

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