Real Estate Investing in Idalou, Texas (79329)

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

Lubbock County • Population: 3,549 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 79329 (Idalou, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 15.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Idalou, TX (79329)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $260,636
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,725
% Renters 25.1%

Market Analysis: 79329 Idalou

Investors eyeing 79329 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $261K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $972/mo on a $261K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 79329 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Statewide comparisons place 79329 among TX's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Turning to rents, 3,549 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.

The right play in 79329 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Idalou:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Lubbock, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
64 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 Lubbock, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 79329

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$50,781/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $101,562 $1,080 7.7% $50,781
3BR $225,807 $1,500 4.8% +4.9% $75,269
4BR $457,097 $1,760 2.8% +5.5% $114,274

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$273K$237K$201K$165K$129K$92KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79329 Compare?

Metric 79329 Idalou Lubbock, TX Texas
Home Value $260,636 $260,636 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79329? Click to expand

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

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 79329 (Idalou, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 79329 (Idalou, TX)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lubbock, TX metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
2/2
64 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $260,636
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 22.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
15.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79329

Population: 3,549

💰 Median Household Income
$69,725
This area
$69,725
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.9%
This area
24.9%
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
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.5%
Hispanic/Latino 20.2%
Other/Mixed 20.2%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
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 79329

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,970 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

IDALOU H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,970 Per Student
B+ Above Average

IDALOU EL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,970 Per Student
B+ Above Average

IDALOU MIDDLE

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,970 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

1 Nearby 1,467 Off-Campus Students
B
Texas Tech University
40,773 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,467 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the renter demographic in Idalou, TX?

Tenant quality in Idalou, TX ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $972/mo.

Are landlord laws favorable in Idalou, TX?

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

Where do home prices stand in Idalou, TX?

Idalou, TX home values average about $261K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $972/mo in monthly income.

Are rents high in Idalou, TX?

Idalou, TX rentals go for roughly $972/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $261K acquisition costs.

How does Idalou, TX rate as a rental market?

Idalou, TX scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $261K and rents near $972/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 79329 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 79329 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.

Compare Plans

How 79329 ranks in Lubbock, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 79329 (Idalou)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 79329 (Idalou, TX).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.