Real Estate Investing in Saco, Maine (04072)

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

York County • Population: 20,636 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04072 (Saco, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Saco, ME (04072)?

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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 $531,657
Avg Monthly Rent $2,040
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,326
% Renters 31.5%

Market Analysis: 04072 Saco

This part of York County is not an easy win. The 04072 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 04072 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $532K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within ME, ZIP 04072 trails on several market indicators that neighboring York County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 04072 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Saco's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 04072. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Saco:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,040/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.2%
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 Portland-South Portland, ME metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 04072

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$145,522/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $300,846 $1,610 3.9% +9.2% $300,846
2BR $391,684 $1,960 3.6% +8.6% $195,842
3BR $531,396 $2,620 3.5% +8.8% $177,132
4BR $643,881 $2,920 3.3% +9.3% $160,970
5BR $727,608 +9.4% $145,522

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$561K$486K$411K$336K$261K$186KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,571$2,457$2,343$2,229$2,115$2,001Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04072 Compare?

Metric 04072 Saco Portland-South Portland, ME Maine
Home Value $531,657 $531,657 N/A $401,109
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% N/A 8.6%
Avg Rent $2,040 $2,040 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 04072? 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 04072 (Saco, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $531,657
Monthly Rent $2,040
Price-to-Rent 21.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -14.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
8.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04072

Population: 20,636

💰 Median Household Income
$81,326
This area
$81,326
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.9%
This area
40.9%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.2 years
This area
43.2 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.9%
Other/Mixed 5.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Black/African American 2.1%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
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 04072

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$18,618 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Saco Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,618 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Young School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
313 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,618 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Governor John Fairfield School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,618 Per Student
A+ Excellent

C K Burns School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
609 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,618 Per Student
A Very Good

Saco Pre-K

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
127 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,618 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

8 Nearby 707 Off-Campus Students
C
University of New England
6,473 students · 6.8 mi
C
Northeast Technical Institute
274 students · 8.8 mi
C+
The Landing School
43 students · 11.1 mi
C
Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook
261 students · 11.4 mi
D
Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts
93 students · 12.4 mi
C+
University of Southern Maine
7,528 students · 12.7 mi
C
Maine College of Art & Design
474 students · 12.9 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Maine
118 students · 13.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 707 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does house hacking make sense in Saco, ME?

House hacking in Saco, ME is reasonable to execute. Prices around $532K and rents of $2,040/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Saco, ME?

Saco, ME investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($532K prices, $2,040/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Saco, ME?

The tenant pool in Saco, ME is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,040/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Saco, ME?

Saco, ME falls under ME landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the typical home price in Saco, ME?

In Saco, ME the median home value sits at $532K. Against the broader ME market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 04072 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04072 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 04072 ranks in Portland-South Portland, ME

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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