Real Estate Investing in West Lake Hills, Texas (78746)

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

Travis County • Population: 28,268 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 78746 (West Lake Hills, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (37/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 76.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in West Lake Hills, TX (78746)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,734,636
Avg Monthly Rent $1,893
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $174,367
% Renters 33.2%

Market Analysis: 78746 West Lake Hills

Put differently, ZIP 78746 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $1.7M median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,893/mo on a $1.7M basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 78746 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in West Lake Hills have seen price recovery that 78746 has not matched. Travis County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Turning to rents, 28,268 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 78746 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $1.7M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 West Lake Hills:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,893/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 78746

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$293,311/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $586,622 $2,330 2.9% +3.3% $293,311
3BR $1,256,829 $2,950 1.7% +8.4% $418,943
4BR $1,723,984 $3,470 1.4% +9.5% $430,996
5BR $2,843,743 +10.2% $568,749

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$2.1M$1.8M$1.5M$1.1M$786K$452KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,036$1,878$1,720$1,562$1,404$1,246Nov 2017Mar 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 78746 Compare?

Metric 78746 West Lake Hills Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX Texas
Home Value $1,734,636 $1,734,636 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 2.7% 2.7% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,893 $1,893 N/A -
Cap Rate 0.9% 0.9% - -
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 78746 (West Lake Hills, 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
0.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.7%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,734,636
Monthly Rent $1,893
Price-to-Rent 76.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.3%
Cap Rate 0.9%
5-Year IRR 3.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 0.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (0.9%). 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
6.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 78746

Population: 28,268

💰 Median Household Income
$174,367
This area
$174,367
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.2%
This area
33.2%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
83.0%
This area
83.0%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.1 years
This area
42.1 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.3%
Asian 8.7%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Black/African American 1.7%
👶 Under 18
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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 78746

A+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
11.2:1 Avg Class Size
$27,865 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

CEDAR CREEK EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

EANES EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
551 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

FOREST TRAIL EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

VALLEY VIEW EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BRIDGE POINT EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
597 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE

📚 06 – 09 High School
👥
968 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WESTLAKE H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,811 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ADULT TRANSITION SERVICES

📚 Grade 12 High School
👥
23 Students
👨‍🏫
5.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

CASIS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2710 EXPOSITION BLVD, AUSTIN
👥
630 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MATHEWS EL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 906 W LYNN ST, AUSTIN
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BRYKER WOODS EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 3309 KERBEY LN, AUSTIN
👥
255 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
A Very Good

O HENRY MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2610 W 10TH ST, AUSTIN
👥
691 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,950 Per Student
B+ Above Average

AUSTIN ST HOSPITAL

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 1111 W 6TH ST, AUSTIN
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
2.3:1 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
D
Baldwin Beauty School-South Austin
46 students · 4.2 mi
D
The University of Texas System Office
0 students · 4.4 mi
C
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
168 students · 4.5 mi
A
The University of Texas at Austin
53,082 students · 4.5 mi
C
The Recording Conservatory of Austin
82 students · 4.5 mi
C
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
116 students · 4.7 mi
D
Texas Health and Science University
65 students · 4.7 mi
C
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine
35 students · 4.8 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for West Lake Hills, TX?

Investors tracking West Lake Hills, TX will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $1.7M median home values and $1,893/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

What real estate strategy is ideal for West Lake Hills, TX?

In West Lake Hills, TX the significant play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $1.7M prices and $1,893/mo rents suits that approach.

What is the typical home price in West Lake Hills, TX?

Typical homes in West Lake Hills, TX go for around $1.7M. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

Is the tenant base reliable in West Lake Hills, TX?

Expect a solid tenant pool in West Lake Hills, TX. The rental market absorbs $1,893/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How high is vacancy risk in West Lake Hills, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in West Lake Hills, TX. Rents at $1,893/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 78746 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 78746 ranks in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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