Real Estate Investing in Cliff, New Mexico (88028)

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

Grant County • Population: 247 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 88028 (Cliff, NM)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (38/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 30.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $36,563 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• 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 Cliff, NM (88028)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $260,624
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $36,563
% Renters 22.4%

Market Analysis: 88028 Cliff

Investors eyeing 88028 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $261K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $261K asset, 88028 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In the broader NM picture, 88028 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A solid renter share of 22% in 88028 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Cliff's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 88028. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Cliff:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 47/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Silver City, NM Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.1%
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 Silver City, NM metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$285K$262K$238K$214K$191K$167KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 88028 Compare?

Metric 88028 Cliff Silver City, NM New Mexico
Home Value $260,624 $260,624 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $945 $945 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 88028? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 88028 (Cliff, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Silver City, NM metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $260,624
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR -2.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
30.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 88028

Population: 247

💰 Median Household Income
$36,563
This area
$36,563
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
66.9 years
This area
66.9 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.7%
This area
30.7%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.7%
Hispanic/Latino 8.3%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
👶 Under 18
6.5%
This area
6.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
56.0%
This area
56.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 88028

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.2:1 Avg Class Size
$14,901 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

CLIFF ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
101 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,901 Per Student
A Very Good

CLIFF HIGH

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
101 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,901 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Cliff, NM?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Cliff, NM. With home values at $261K and rents near $945/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

How landlord-friendly is Cliff, NM?

The landlord environment in Cliff, NM is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Cliff, NM?

Cliff, NM vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is house hacking profitable in Cliff, NM?

House hacking works a challenging in Cliff, NM. Rents of $945/mo against $261K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the average monthly rent in Cliff, NM?

Rent in Cliff, NM is around $945/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $261K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 88028 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 88028 ranks in Silver City, NM

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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