Real Estate Investing in El Paso, Texas (79903)

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

El Paso County • Population: 15,120 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79903 (El Paso, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Elevated poverty: 24.6% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $35,750 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in El Paso, TX (79903)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $181,866
Avg Monthly Rent $1,301
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $35,750
% Renters 41.0%

Market Analysis: 79903 El Paso

Meanwhile, ZIP 79903 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $182K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,301/mo on a $182K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 79903 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within TX, ZIP 79903 trails on several market indicators that neighboring El Paso County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 79903 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 79903, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 El Paso:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,301/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
El Paso, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
79 days
Average time to sell
Slow
5.3%
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 El Paso, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 79903

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$56,705/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $154,728 $1,080 5.0% +9.8% $77,364
3BR $184,981 $1,490 5.8% +8.8% $61,660
4BR $226,819 $1,810 5.7% +7.9% $56,705

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$190K$168K$146K$124K$103K$81KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,321$1,262$1,202$1,142$1,083$1,023Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79903 Compare?

Metric 79903 El Paso El Paso, TX Texas
Home Value $181,866 $87,562 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.4% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,301 $1,430 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.6% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79903? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 41% 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 79903 (El Paso, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on El Paso, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
2/2
79 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $181,866
Monthly Rent $1,301
Price-to-Rent 11.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.6%
Cap Rate 5.6%
5-Year IRR 12.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +18.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.6%). 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
10.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79903

Population: 15,120

💰 Median Household Income
$35,750
This area
$35,750
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.0%
This area
41.0%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.2%
This area
16.2%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.5 years
This area
42.5 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 55.9%
Hispanic/Latino 54.2%
White 44.0%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
24.6%
This area
24.6%
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 79903

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,379 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

COLDWELL EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

HILLSIDE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

HAWKINS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5816 STEPHENSON AVE, EL PASO
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

TRAVIS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5000 N STEVENS ST, EL PASO
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

ZAVALA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 51 N HAMMETT ST, EL PASO
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

AOY EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 901 S CAMPBELL ST, EL PASO
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

CLENDENIN EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2701 HARRISON AVE, EL PASO
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 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 10,414 Off-Campus Students
D
Pipo Academy of Hair Design
11 students · 1.1 mi
C
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso
922 students · 1.2 mi
C
Southwest University at El Paso
1,817 students · 1.7 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-El Paso
667 students · 3.5 mi
C+
The University of Texas at El Paso
24,351 students · 3.8 mi
C
El Paso Community College
24,420 students · 4.1 mi
C
Western Technical College
635 students · 6.4 mi
C
Tri-State Cosmetology Institute
147 students · 6.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 10,414 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical vacancy rate in El Paso, TX?

El Paso, TX vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is El Paso, TX a friendly market for rental owners?

For rental operators, El Paso, TX rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Can I house hack in El Paso, TX?

El Paso, TX is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $182K price point reasonable to enter.

What monthly rent should investors expect in El Paso, TX?

Average rent in El Paso, TX is approximately $1,301/mo per month. Against $182K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the median home value in El Paso, TX?

Expect median prices around $182K in El Paso, TX. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

You know 79903 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 79903 ranks in El Paso, TX

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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