Real Estate Investing in Scarborough, Maine (04074)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 04074 (Scarborough, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Elevated vacancy: 11.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
What’s happening in Scarborough, ME (04074)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 04074 Scarborough
The 04074 ZIP covers a section of Scarborough that demands careful diligence. Prices near $705K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.
Rent of $2,742/mo on a $705K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 04074 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.
Turning to rents, 04074 offers a low basis, the region around Scarborough has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
Who lives in 04074 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 Scarborough's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 04074. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Scarborough:
Property Strategy for 04074
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $364,641 | $1,910 | 3.8% | +8.3% | $364,641 |
| 2BR | $475,357 | $2,450 | 3.7% | +8.5% | $237,678 |
| 3BR | $683,977 | $2,980 | 3.1% | +9.7% | $227,992 |
| 4BR | $848,737 | $3,240 | 2.7% | +10.1% | $212,184 |
| 5BR | $1,136,020 | — | — | +10.5% | $227,204 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 04074 Compare?
| Metric | 04074 | Scarborough | Portland-South Portland, ME | Maine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $705,449 | $705,449 | N/A | $401,109 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 5.9% | 5.9% | N/A | 8.6% |
| Avg Rent | $2,742 | $2,742 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04074 (Scarborough, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Cumberland County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Port Property offers apartments for rent and commercial property management services in Portland, South Portland, and Biddeford, Maine. summary from their website
Schneider Property Management, part of HomeRiver Group, offers property management, brokerage, rehab and construction, leasing, and maintenance services for single-family and multi-family properties. summary from their website
Aquarius Property Management offers property management services in Greater Portland, including Portland, South Portland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $705,449 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,742 |
| Price-to-Rent | 21.4:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.7% |
| Cap Rate | 3.0% |
| 5-Year IRR | 8.9% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +2.2% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.8% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +5.9% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +7.8% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +8.5% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
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.
Demographics in 04074
Population: 22,527
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 04074
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 2,551 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should investors consider Scarborough, ME?
Scarborough, ME rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $705K and rents near $2,742/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.
Is Scarborough, ME good for landlords?
ME law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Scarborough inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.
What monthly rent should investors expect in Scarborough, ME?
The typical rental in Scarborough, ME commands about $2,742/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $705K purchase basis.
Is house hacking profitable in Scarborough, ME?
Scarborough, ME is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $705K price point reasonable to enter.
Should investors worry about vacancy in Scarborough, ME?
Occupancy in Scarborough, ME runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,742/mo lease on reasonable timelines.
You know 04074 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04074 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.
How 04074 ranks in Portland-South Portland, ME
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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