Real Estate Investing in Cave Junction, Oregon (97523)

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

Josephine County • Population: 7,162 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 97523 (Cave Junction, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (29/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.4% CAGR).

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

What’s happening in Cave Junction, OR (97523)?

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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 $301,487
Avg Monthly Rent $1,278
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,801
% Renters 19.3%

Market Analysis: 97523 Cave Junction

The 97523 ZIP in Cave Junction, OR is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $301K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 97523 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Cave Junction have seen price recovery that 97523 has not matched. Josephine County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 97523 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 97523, 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 Cave Junction:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 49/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,278/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
Grants Pass, OR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.9%
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 Grants Pass, OR metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 97523

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$110,503/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $250,033 $1,420 4.1% +4.8% $125,017
3BR $331,510 $1,970 4.3% +5.5% $110,503

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$327K$282K$237K$193K$148K$103KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97523 Compare?

Metric 97523 Cave Junction Grants Pass, OR Oregon
Home Value $301,487 $301,487 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 1.4% 1.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,278 $1,278 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
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 97523 (Cave Junction, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.4%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Grants Pass, OR metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
61%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $301,487
Monthly Rent $1,278
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 4.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
12.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97523

Population: 7,162

💰 Median Household Income
$42,801
This area
$42,801
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.4%
This area
15.4%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.3 years
This area
47.3 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.3%
Other/Mixed 8.2%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Black/African American 1.2%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.8%
This area
30.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.9%
This area
17.9%
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 97523

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.2:1 Avg Class Size
$16,461 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Illinois Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,461 Per Student
B Good

Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
32 Students
👨‍🏫
7.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,461 Per Student
B Good

Lorna Byrne Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
307 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,461 Per Student
B Good

Evergreen Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
385 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,461 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

Is housing expensive in Cave Junction, OR?

Median home price in Cave Junction, OR is near $301K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the average monthly rent in Cave Junction, OR?

Cave Junction, OR rentals go for roughly $1,278/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $301K acquisition costs.

Which real estate strategy fits Cave Junction, OR?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Cave Junction, OR best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $301K price point.

What is it like being a landlord in Cave Junction, OR?

Cave Junction, OR falls under OR landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How viable is house hacking in Cave Junction, OR?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Cave Junction, OR reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 97523 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97523 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.

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How 97523 ranks in Grants Pass, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation →
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