Real Estate Investing in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (80129)

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

Douglas County • Population: 29,495 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80129 (Highlands Ranch, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Highlands Ranch, CO (80129)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $670,757
Avg Monthly Rent $2,303
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $130,266
% Renters 28.3%

Market Analysis: 80129 Highlands Ranch

On the rental side, ZIP 80129 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $671K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 80129 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 80129's metrics run below Douglas County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 80129 ZIP's population of 29,495 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 80129, 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 Highlands Ranch:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,303/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
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
53 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.8%
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 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 80129

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$172,907/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $511,056 $2,550 3.6% +4.7% $255,528
3BR $614,843 $3,340 3.9% +5.3% $204,948
4BR $722,799 $3,720 3.7% +5.4% $180,700
5BR $864,534 +6.0% $172,907

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$754K$652K$549K$447K$345K$243KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,395$2,249$2,102$1,955$1,808$1,661Dec 2018Oct 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80129 Compare?

Metric 80129 Highlands Ranch Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $670,757 $698,610 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 2.1% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,303 $2,688 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 3.0% - -
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 80129 (Highlands Ranch, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Douglas County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Beacon Property Management LLC offers property management services in Denver. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

PMI Elevation offers Denver property management services including marketing, resident screening, rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and eviction for residential properties. summary from their website

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Ashdon Property Mgmt, Llc
Highlands Ranch, CO
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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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $670,757
Monthly Rent $2,303
Price-to-Rent 24.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 4.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year 0.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
2.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80129

Population: 29,495

💰 Median Household Income
$130,266
This area
$130,266
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
62.1%
This area
62.1%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.6 years
This area
40.6 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.8%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Asian 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Black/African American 0.6%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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 80129

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,103 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Coyote Creek Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Saddle Ranch Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
368 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stone Mountain Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B Good

Ranch View Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
810 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B Good

Ben Franklin Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
879 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
C+ Average

STEM School Highlands Ranch

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,399 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
C+ Average

Thunderridge High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,841 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Heritage Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 3350 SUMMIT VIEW PARKWAY, HIGHLANDS RANCH
👥
378 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
A Very Good

Trailblazer Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 9760 SOUTH HACKBERRY, HIGHLANDS RANCH
👥
314 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bear Canyon Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 9660 SALFORD LANE, HIGHLANDS RANCH
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Copper Mesa Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 3501 POSTON PARKWAY, HIGHLANDS RANCH
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cougar Run Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
📍 8780 VENNEFORD RANCH ROAD, HIGHLANDS RANCH
👥
360 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,103 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 4,808 Off-Campus Students
D
Denver Seminary
837 students · 3.9 mi
C
Arapahoe Community College
13,978 students · 4.3 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Littleton
44 students · 6.3 mi
D
Platt College-Aurora
215 students · 7.6 mi
C
Colorado Media School
45 students · 8.8 mi
D
Iliff School of Theology
172 students · 9.4 mi
B
University of Denver
13,387 students · 9.5 mi
C+
United Beauty College
12 students · 9.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,808 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Highlands Ranch, CO?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Highlands Ranch, CO best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $671K price point.

What does house hacking look like in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Highlands Ranch, CO is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $671K price point reasonable to enter.

How much does a house cost in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Highlands Ranch, CO median home values land near $671K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,303/mo-per-month rentals.

Does Highlands Ranch, CO make sense for an investment property?

Investors tracking Highlands Ranch, CO will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $671K median home values and $2,303/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Working renters make up the core of the Highlands Ranch, CO tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

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How 80129 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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