Real Estate Investing in Buffalo Gap, Texas (79508)

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

Taylor County • Population: 982 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79508 (Buffalo Gap, 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.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Buffalo Gap, TX (79508)?

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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 $264,373
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,583
% Renters 17.2%

Market Analysis: 79508 Buffalo Gap

The 79508 ZIP in Buffalo Gap, TX is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $264K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $264K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 79508 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within TX, ZIP 79508 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Taylor County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 79508 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 79508 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 Buffalo Gap:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/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
Abilene, TX Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.1%
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 Abilene, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$277K$240K$202K$164K$127K$89KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79508 Compare?

Metric 79508 Buffalo Gap Abilene, TX Texas
Home Value $264,373 $264,373 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79508? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 79508 (Buffalo Gap, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Abilene, TX metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
38%
Days Pending
0/2
34 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $264,373
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79508

Population: 982

💰 Median Household Income
$74,583
This area
$74,583
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.2%
This area
25.2%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.0 years
This area
45.0 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 96.5%
Black/African American 1.8%
Other/Mixed 1.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
👶 Under 18
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 79508

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$21,027 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

BUFFALO GAP EL

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,027 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

JIM NED H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 9TH AND GARZA, TUSCOLA
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,027 Per Student
A+ Excellent

JIM NED MIDDLE

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 9TH AND GARZA, TUSCOLA
👥
227 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,027 Per Student
A Very Good

JIM NED INT

📚 04 – 06 School
📍 4350 HWY 83, TUSCOLA
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,027 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

3 Nearby
D
Neecee's Barber College
33 students · 10.3 mi
C
McMurry University
2,549 students · 12.0 mi
C
Texas College of Cosmetology-Abilene
74 students · 13.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Buffalo Gap, TX for investors?

Our data puts Buffalo Gap, TX at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $264K and rents around $1,116/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How much does a house cost in Buffalo Gap, TX?

In Buffalo Gap, TX the median home value sits at $264K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Buffalo Gap, TX?

Buffalo Gap, TX sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader TX rental market.

Is rental property easy to operate in Buffalo Gap, TX?

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

How strong are rents in Buffalo Gap, TX?

Investors in Buffalo Gap, TX typically see rents near $1,116/mo per month against $264K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 79508 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 79508 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 79508 ranks in Abilene, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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