Real Estate Investing in Lakewood, Colorado (80226)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 80226 (Lakewood, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.
No major risk flags on the data we track.
What’s happening in Lakewood, CO (80226)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 80226 Lakewood
ZIP 80226 in Lakewood, CO carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $546K and rents of $1,823/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.
Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 80226 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.
In the broader CO picture, 80226 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.
Put differently, 32,237 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.
seems 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.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lakewood:
Property Strategy for 80226
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $257,616 | $1,620 | 4.5% | +3.5% | $257,616 |
| 2BR | $394,343 | $1,930 | 3.5% | +3.7% | $197,171 |
| 3BR | $535,620 | $2,520 | 3.4% | +4.4% | $178,540 |
| 4BR | $598,098 | $2,820 | 3.4% | +4.3% | $149,525 |
| 5BR | $642,244 | — | — | +4.3% | $128,449 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 80226 Compare?
| Metric | 80226 | Lakewood | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $546,408 | $557,095 | N/A | $535,778 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 1.5% | 1.8% | N/A | 4.9% |
| Avg Rent | $1,823 | $1,785 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.6% | 2.6% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 80226 (Lakewood, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Jefferson County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Aim High Property Management handles the full rental cycle for residential properties, including finding qualified tenants, protecting home condition, collecting rent, and reporting to owners. summary from their website
Association & Community Management provides professional management solutions for Homeowners Associations for over 60 years, focusing on personal service and integrity. summary from their website
Colorado Luxe Living offers real estate and property management services for the Front Range. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $546,408 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,823 |
| Price-to-Rent | 25.0:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.0% |
| Cap Rate | 2.6% |
| 5-Year IRR | 4.1% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +0.7% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.2% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +1.5% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +5.5% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -8.5% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -2.4% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +0.6% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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.
Demographics in 80226
Population: 32,237
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 80226
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 3,218 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is vacancy risk in Lakewood, CO?
Vacancy risk in Lakewood, CO is elevated. That supports stable cash flow for typical rental holds.
What is the renter demographic in Lakewood, CO?
Tenant quality in Lakewood, CO ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,823/mo.
Is Lakewood, CO a good market for buy-and-hold investors?
Investors tracking Lakewood, CO will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $546K median home values and $1,823/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.
Is Lakewood, CO suited for a house hack?
The a challenging house-hack environment in Lakewood, CO reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.
Is housing expensive in Lakewood, CO?
Lakewood, CO home values average about $546K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,823/mo in monthly income.
You know 80226 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 80226 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.
How 80226 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
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