Real Estate Investing in Elgin, Oregon (97827)

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

Union County • Population: 2,557 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97827 (Elgin, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Elgin, OR (97827)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $277,010
Avg Monthly Rent $1,125
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,528
% Renters 20.4%

Market Analysis: 97827 Elgin

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Elgin's 97827 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $277K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 97827 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $277K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 97827 sits on the difficult end of the OR spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 97827 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 97827 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Elgin:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,125/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
La Grande, OR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 La Grande, OR metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 97827

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$89,685/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $209,266 $1,250 4.3% $104,633
3BR $269,055 $1,740 4.7% +8.9% $89,685

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$290K$252K$213K$175K$137K$98KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97827 Compare?

Metric 97827 Elgin La Grande, OR Oregon
Home Value $277,010 $277,010 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,125 $1,125 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97827? 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 →
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 97827 (Elgin, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on La Grande, OR 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 $277,010
Monthly Rent $1,125
Price-to-Rent 20.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
14.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97827

Population: 2,557

💰 Median Household Income
$54,528
This area
$54,528
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.1 years
This area
47.1 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.3%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Asian 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 97827

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,947 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Stella Mayfield Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,947 Per Student
B Good

Elgin High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
166 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,947 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

How does Elgin, OR rate as a rental market?

Elgin, OR scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $277K and rents near $1,125/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Elgin, OR?

Rental rates in Elgin, OR average $1,125/mo. Tenant demand and $277K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Elgin, OR suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Elgin, OR is a challenging. The $1,125/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $277K property.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Elgin, OR?

Typical homes in Elgin, OR go for around $277K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

What strategy should investors use in Elgin, OR?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Elgin, OR. With home values at $277K and rents near $1,125/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

You know 97827 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97827 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 97827 ranks in La Grande, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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