Real Estate Investing in Amarillo, Texas (79109)

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

Randall County • Population: 42,410 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79109 (Amarillo, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Amarillo, TX (79109)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $238,581
Avg Monthly Rent $1,099
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,831
% Renters 39.4%

Market Analysis: 79109 Amarillo

Looking more closely, ZIP 79109 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $239K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 79109 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, 79109 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 79109 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

appears 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 Amarillo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,099/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Amarillo, TX Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
54 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.2%
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 Amarillo, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 79109

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,111/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $154,653 $1,170 5.4% +6.2% $77,326
3BR $225,333 $1,590 5.1% +6.1% $75,111
4BR $308,107 $1,840 4.3% +5.5% $77,027
5BR $412,566 +5.6% $82,513

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$247K$222K$198K$173K$149K$124KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,341$1,254$1,167$1,081$994$907Mar 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79109 Compare?

Metric 79109 Amarillo Amarillo, TX Texas
Home Value $238,581 $140,122 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 5.5% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,099 $1,170 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79109? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 79109 (Amarillo, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Amarillo, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
52%
Days Pending
1/2
54 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $238,581
Monthly Rent $1,099
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -15.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.4% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
10.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79109

Population: 42,410

💰 Median Household Income
$67,831
This area
$67,831
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.4%
This area
39.4%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.9%
This area
32.9%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.7 years
This area
37.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.3%
Other/Mixed 13.7%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Black/African American 5.8%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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 79109

B Avg School Grade
15 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,624 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

ARDEN ROAD EL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,516 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WEST PLAINS J H

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
601 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,516 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CORONADO EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PARAMOUNT TERRACE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WESTERN PLATEAU EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WOLFLIN EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B Good

AUSTIN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
687 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B Good

PUCKETT EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B Good

RIDGECREST EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
400 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B Good

WEST PLAINS H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,162 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,516 Per Student
B Good

WINDSOR EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
B Good

BONHAM MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
868 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
C+ Average

AMARILLO H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,170 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,807 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY AMARILLO

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
122 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$10,683 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

PREMIER H S OF AMARILLO

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
242 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$7,056 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

5 Nearby 4,162 Off-Campus Students
D
Exposito School of Hair Design
25 students · 1.2 mi
C
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy
134 students · 1.5 mi
C
Milan Institute-Amarillo
195 students · 2.2 mi
C
Amarillo College
9,215 students · 2.7 mi
C+
West Texas A & M University
8,997 students · 12.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,162 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Amarillo, TX stack up for property investment?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Amarillo, TX ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $239K and rents of $1,099/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Amarillo, TX?

Amarillo, TX median home values land near $239K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,099/mo-per-month rentals.

How much do tenants pay in Amarillo, TX?

The typical rental in Amarillo, TX commands about $1,099/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $239K purchase basis.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Amarillo, TX?

The landlord environment in Amarillo, TX is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Is vacancy a concern in Amarillo, TX?

Occupancy in Amarillo, TX runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,099/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 79109 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 79109 ranks in Amarillo, TX

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