Real Estate Investing in Fossil, Oregon (97830)

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

Wheeler County • Population: 621 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97830 (Fossil, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 29.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Fossil, OR (97830)?

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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 $246,154
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,208
% Renters 20.5%

Market Analysis: 97830 Fossil

The 97830 ZIP covers a section of Fossil that demands careful diligence. Prices near $246K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 97830 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $246K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 97830's metrics run below Wheeler County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 97830 ZIP's population of 621 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 97830 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Fossil:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$258K$225K$193K$160K$127K$94KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97830 Compare?

Metric 97830 Fossil Oregon
Home Value $246,154 $246,154 $493,884
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% 4.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 97830? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97830 (Fossil, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $246,154
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 23.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲

🏠 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
29.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97830

Population: 621

💰 Median Household Income
$50,208
This area
$50,208
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
61.5 years
This area
61.5 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
29.0%
This area
29.0%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.5%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
👶 Under 18
11.7%
This area
11.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
38.3%
This area
38.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
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 97830

D Avg School Grade
1 Schools
42.8:1 Avg Class Size
$10,359 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

D Needs Improvement

Fossil Charter School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,929 Students
👨‍🏫
42.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,359 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 qualified is the tenant pool in Fossil, OR?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Fossil, OR. The rental market absorbs $873/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Does Fossil, OR favor landlords or tenants?

Fossil, OR operates under OR law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect reliable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Fossil, OR?

Vacancy risk in Fossil, OR is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

What do landlords charge for rent in Fossil, OR?

Expect rents around $873/mo per month in Fossil, OR. With home values at $246K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Does house hacking work in Fossil, OR?

House hacking in Fossil, OR is reasonable to execute. Prices around $246K and rents of $873/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 97830 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97830 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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