Real Estate Investing in Santa Clara, New Mexico (88026)

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

Grant County • Population: 1,636 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 88026 (Santa Clara, NM)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 27.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -5.1% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Santa Clara, NM (88026)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $98,682
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,078
% Renters 31.5%

Market Analysis: 88026 Santa Clara

Meanwhile, ZIP 88026 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $99K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 88026 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 88026's metrics run below Grant County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 88026 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 88026 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Santa Clara:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+21.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/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)

$133K$120K$106K$93K$80K$67KFeb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 88026 Compare?

Metric 88026 Santa Clara Silver City, NM New Mexico
Home Value $98,682 $98,682 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $936 $936 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.4% 7.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 88026? 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 88026 (Santa Clara, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.4%
Good
5yr Growth
-5.1%
Declining

📉 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 $98,682
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 8.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.4%
Cap Rate 7.4%
5-Year IRR 2.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +21.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR -6.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR -5.1% ▼
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.4%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
27.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-5.1%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 88026

Population: 1,636

💰 Median Household Income
$46,078
This area
$46,078
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.5 years
This area
42.5 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 63.3%
Other/Mixed 36.7%
Hispanic/Latino 36.4%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
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 88026

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
8.3:1 Avg Class Size
$18,463 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
136 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,463 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

1 Nearby 1,349 Off-Campus Students
C+
Western New Mexico University
3,570 students · 7.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,349 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play Santa Clara, NM?

In Santa Clara, NM the resilient play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $99K prices and $936/mo rents suits that approach.

Is vacancy a concern in Santa Clara, NM?

Vacancy in Santa Clara, NM is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $936/mo.

What is the tenant pool like in Santa Clara, NM?

Tenant quality in Santa Clara, NM ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $936/mo.

Does Santa Clara, NM favor landlords or tenants?

NM ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Santa Clara generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How much rent can I charge in Santa Clara, NM?

Investors in Santa Clara, NM typically see rents near $936/mo per month against $99K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 88026 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 88026 ranks in Silver City, NM

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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