Wholesale real estate in Akron, OH: older houses, student rentals and Summit County records
Akron has about 190,000 residents and a median home value near $142,000 in recent Census estimates. About 70% of homes are single-unit houses and about 54% are owner-occupied, so wholesale real estate in Akron centers on older single-family homes, many built for workers during the city’s rubber-industry boom.
Prices range widely, from under $90,000 in parts of the south and east side to more than $230,000 in Highland Square and West Akron. This guide uses Census figures and local search data to compare Akron ZIP codes, explains what investor buyers check and walks through wholesale math on a typical house.
What Summit County buyers and investors search for
Search data shows heavy use of public records. The Summit County Fiscal Office, which handles property records and taxes, draws about 4,400 searches a month.
Suburbs draw buyers
Homes for sale in Stow draw about 880 searches a month and Cuyahoga Falls about 590.
Distressed sales get attention
The Summit County sheriff sale draws about 480 searches a month.
The land bank is well known
The Summit County Land Bank draws about 390 searches a month.
- 1Summit County Fiscal OfficeAbout 4,400
- 2Homes for sale Akron OhioAbout 1,600
- 3Homes for sale Stow OhioAbout 880
- 4Homes for sale Cuyahoga FallsAbout 590
- 5Summit County sheriff saleAbout 480
- 6Summit County Land BankAbout 390
- 7Akron Ohio real estateAbout 210
- 8Homes for sale Fairlawn OhioAbout 210
How wholesalers can use this data
Use local data to find and price deals:
Search volumes are approximate. Figures are recent monthly estimates and change over time. Use them to understand interest, not as exact counts.
ForeclosuresDaily.com hosts monthly webinars with investors such as Carolynn Castillo, who share how they find and evaluate deals.
Listed and sold 25 properties and personally bought and sold four fix-and-flip properties, all generated from probate leads.
Carolynn Castillo
Realtor & Broker · eXp Realty
Akron ZIP codes for wholesale deals
Recent Census estimates show Akron prices more than doubling from the south and east side to the west side.
West Akron and Highland Square 44303 and 44313
Medians near $231,000 to $236,000, with older homes on larger lots and steady resale demand.
Ellet 44312 and Firestone Park area 44319
Medians near $153,000 to $197,000 and owner-occupancy near 74% to 76%, with mostly single homes and low vacancy.
South and east side 44306, 44307 and 44314
Medians near $81,000 to $89,000 and vacancy near 11% to 12%. Low prices suit rental investors, but repairs can be heavy.
North Hill and Goodyear Heights 44310 and 44305
Medians near $99,000 to $100,000, with older single homes and many investor owners.
University area 44304
Owner-occupancy is near 8% in the ZIP around the University of Akron, where many homes are rented to students.
Nearby Cuyahoga Falls 44221 and 44223
Medians near $167,000 to $218,000 and vacancy near 4% to 5%, with stronger retail resale.
ZIP medians are recent Census estimates. Price every deal from recent sales of similar houses nearby.
Shannon Thompson
Investor · Joe Homebuyer of Atlanta
Watch Shannon Thompson share their experience using ForeclosuresDaily.com.
Akron in numbers
Akron has about 190,000 residents, a median home value near $142,000 and a median household income around $49,000 in recent Census estimates, with about 54% of homes owner-occupied and vacancy near 8%. Summit County has about 538,000 residents and a median value near $209,000.
Many Akron homes were built in the early and middle 1900s, so roofs, foundations, wiring and plumbing often need attention.
Healthcare, the university, polymer and manufacturing firms and logistics support steady rental demand.
Price gaps between ZIP codes are large, so the same repair budget can mean very different profits on different streets.
Wholesalers who estimate repairs carefully and know their buyers can move deals quickly.
- Ignore city rental rules
- Use countywide prices
- Hide your plan to assign
- Check city rental requirements
- Price from nearby sales
- Disclose your role clearly
Ohio resources
Andrew Litchfield
Webinar host
Andrew Litchfield hosted a ForeclosuresDaily.com monthly webinar for real estate investors.
How to find wholesale deals in Akron
- 1
Use targeted lead lists
Absentee owner, probate, preforeclosure and tax delinquent lists help you reach owners of older Akron houses before they list. Many longtime owners have passed homes to heirs who live elsewhere.
- 2
Watch county sources
The Summit County Fiscal Office shows ownership, values and tax status. Sheriff sale lists and court foreclosure filings show owners under pressure.
- 3
Build a buyer list
Line up rental investors for the south and east side and flippers for West Akron and Ellet, and learn exactly what each wants.
Before you sign
- Check fiscal office records
- Look for unpaid taxes
- Check code violations
- Estimate repairs carefully
- Know your buyer’s price
- Disclose your role
See also probate leads in Summit County and wholesale real estate in Toledo.
Anthony Coletti
Real estate investor
Watch Anthony Coletti share their experience using ForeclosuresDaily.com.
Older housing, rental rules and foreclosures in Akron
Local factors shape what investors will pay for an Akron house. Wholesalers who understand them price deals better and assign faster.
Age and condition
Many Akron homes are close to a century old. Basements, sewer lines, roofs and old wiring are common repair items.
- Older homes
- Repairs
Get repair estimates before you set a price.
City rental requirements
Akron has adopted rental registration and inspection rules for some rental homes. Requirements can change, so check current city rules before you market a rental.
- Rental rules
- Inspections
Ask the city what applies to the property.
Court foreclosures and tax foreclosures
Ohio mortgage foreclosures go through the courts and end in a sheriff sale. Summit County can also foreclose on homes with long-unpaid taxes.
- Judicial process
- Tax foreclosure
Reach owners early, before the sale date.
Wholesaling within the rules
Wholesalers usually assign their contract to an investor or close and resell. Ohio has rules on wholesaling and real estate licensing, so get advice on current requirements and always disclose your role to sellers.
Be clear with sellers that you plan to assign the contract.
Questions before putting an Akron house under contract
- 1How old are the roof and systems?
- 2Are there unpaid taxes or code orders?
- 3Is the home rented, and to whom?
- 4What will repairs really cost?
- 5Is there a foreclosure case?
- 6What will your investor buyer pay?
Jeremy Resmer
Webinar host
Jeremy Resmer hosted a ForeclosuresDaily.com monthly webinar for real estate investors.
Running the numbers on an Akron wholesale deal
Work backward from what your investor buyer needs. Start with the renovated value, subtract repairs, holding and selling costs and the investor’s profit, then leave room for your fee. In Akron many investor buyers plan to rent, so they also check whether rents cover taxes, insurance and upkeep on an older house. A deal that leaves thin cash flow is hard to assign.
Assignment fee = Investor price − Your contract price with the owner
Your price must leave the investor a fair margin.
Your fee in this example is $10,000 on a $95,000 contract. Confirm repairs and sales before you assign.
Repairs decide deals
On older homes, a missed sewer line or roof can erase the margin.
Rents matter too
Many buyers hold Akron homes as rentals, so know local rents.
Student rentals differ
Homes near the university rent by the room and need different math.
Reliability builds a business
On-time closings bring repeat buyers.
Antonio Stringfield
Probate investor · Los Angeles
Watch Antonio Stringfield share their experience using ForeclosuresDaily.com.
Nancy Wallace-Laab
Investor · nearly 20 years
Nancy focuses on the best outcome for both the seller and the investor, drawing on nearly 20 years of real estate investing experience.
Phillip Warrick
Full-time investor since 2003
Full-time real estate investor since 2003, with over 20 years of experience.
Wholesale real estate in Akron, OH: FAQ
Short answers for wholesalers working in Akron. Tap a question to open it.
QWhy wholesale in Akron?Yes
Low prices, older homes and steady rental demand draw investors.
QWhere are property records?
The Summit County Fiscal Office.
QAre there rental rules?
Akron has rental rules for some homes. Check current city requirements.
QAre Ohio foreclosures judicial?Yes
Yes. They go through court and end in a sheriff sale.
QDo I need a license to wholesale?
Rules vary. Get advice on Ohio requirements.
QWhere are prices highest?
West Akron, Highland Square and nearby suburbs.
Looking for Akron wholesale leads? Tell us your target ZIP codes and we will help you choose off-market leads.
Find wholesale deals in Akron
Akron rewards wholesalers who estimate repairs carefully, check city rules and disclose their role.
ForeclosuresDaily.com supplies absentee owner, probate, preforeclosure and tax delinquent leads across Summit County and Ohio. Explore our lead products.