Real Estate Investing in Austin, Texas (78741)

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

Travis County • Population: 45,274 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78741 (Austin, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

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
3 flags
  • Declining values: -3.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 4.2% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 22.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Austin, TX (78741)?

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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 $324,337
Avg Monthly Rent $1,417
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,049
% Renters 81.5%

Market Analysis: 78741 Austin

The 78741 ZIP covers a section of Austin that demands careful diligence. Prices near $324K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 78741 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $324K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within TX, ZIP 78741 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Travis County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 78741 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 78741 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 Austin:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 48/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,417/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 78741

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+2.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$109,576/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $185,569 $1,520 5.9% +1.3% $185,569
2BR $291,202 $1,800 4.5% +1.6% $145,601
3BR $406,435 $2,280 4.0% +1.8% $135,478
4BR $438,305 $2,680 4.4% +2.0% $109,576

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$493K$413K$332K$252K$172K$92KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,679$1,562$1,445$1,328$1,211$1,094Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78741 Compare?

Metric 78741 Austin Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Texas
Home Value $324,337 $561,613 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,417 $1,810 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 78741? Click to expand

82% 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 78741 (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
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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
Fair
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
-3.6%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $324,337
Monthly Rent $1,417
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -4.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -7.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -3.6% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -3.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
6.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-3.6%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78741

Population: 45,274

💰 Median Household Income
$59,049
This area
$59,049
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
81.5%
This area
81.5%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.8%
This area
45.8%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.8 years
This area
29.8 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.3%
Other/Mixed 28.2%
Hispanic/Latino 22.5%
Black/African American 10.8%
Asian 3.7%
👶 Under 18
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
4.5%
This area
4.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.3%
This area
22.3%
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 78741

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,348 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

ALLISON EL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BATY EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
510 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,162 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LINDER EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
C+ Average

IDEA MONTOPOLIS COLLEGE PREPARATORY

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
753 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,965 Per Student
C+ Average

IDEA MONTOPOLIS ACADEMY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
679 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,965 Per Student
C+ Average

THE EXCEL CENTER FOR ADULTS - SOUTH AUSTIN

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
109 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$8,094 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 5,732 Off-Campus Students
C
Huston-Tillotson University
1,029 students · 2.4 mi
C+
Saint Edward's University
3,309 students · 2.5 mi
C
Avenue Five Institute-South Austin Campus
131 students · 2.6 mi
D
The University of Texas System Office
0 students · 3.3 mi
A
The University of Texas at Austin
53,082 students · 3.9 mi
D
Baldwin Beauty School-South Austin
46 students · 4.2 mi
D
Southern Careers Institute-Austin
1,079 students · 4.2 mi
D
Texas Health and Science University
65 students · 4.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,732 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Austin, TX stack up for property investment?

Austin, TX reflects an investability rating of 2.0/5, with median home values near $324K and average rents around $1,417/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

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 $1,417/mo.

What are home prices like in Austin, TX?

The median home value in Austin, TX is roughly $324K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TX statewide average.

Is the tenant base reliable in Austin, TX?

The renter base in Austin, TX is reasonable for the $1,417/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

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

Austin, TX investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($324K prices, $1,417/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 78741 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 78741 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 78741 ranks in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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