Real Estate Investing in Harpswell, Maine (04079)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 04079 (Harpswell, 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.
- High vacancy: 36.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 36.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.
What’s happening in Harpswell, ME (04079)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 04079 Harpswell
Put differently, ZIP 04079 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $731K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.
The 04079 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.
In the broader ME picture, 04079 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.
A notable renter share of 16% in 04079 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.
leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Harpswell:
Property Strategy for 04079
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $412,493 | $1,420 | 2.5% | +8.4% | $412,493 |
| 2BR | $581,814 | $1,860 | 2.3% | +9.0% | $290,907 |
| 3BR | $786,772 | $2,410 | 2.2% | +9.1% | $262,257 |
| 4BR | $901,385 | $3,080 | 2.5% | +9.0% | $225,346 |
| 5BR | $1,162,696 | — | — | +9.4% | $232,539 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 04079 Compare?
| Metric | 04079 | Harpswell | Portland-South Portland, ME | Maine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $730,758 | $775,100 | N/A | $401,109 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 5.1% | 5.5% | N/A | 8.6% |
| Avg Rent | $1,674 | $1,689 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.8% | 1.7% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04079 (Harpswell, 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 | $730,758 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,674 |
| Price-to-Rent | 36.4:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.8% |
| Cap Rate | 1.8% |
| 5-Year IRR | 6.9% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +4.7% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.0% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +5.1% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +7.4% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | N/A |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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.
Demographics in 04079
Population: 4,094
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 04079
Schools in This ZIP Code
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We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:
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- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tenants pay in Harpswell, ME?
Expect rents around $1,674/mo per month in Harpswell, ME. With home values at $731K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.
What is it like being a landlord in Harpswell, ME?
ME ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Harpswell generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
Do rentals sit vacant long in Harpswell, ME?
Expect elevated vacancy in Harpswell, ME. Rents at $1,674/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.
Which real estate strategy fits Harpswell, ME?
Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Harpswell, ME. The numbers - $731K homes against $1,674/mo rents - support that play.
Should investors consider Harpswell, ME?
The 3.0/5 investability rating in Harpswell, ME reflects its $731K prices and $1,674/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within ME.
You know 04079 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04079 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 04079 ranks in Portland-South Portland, ME
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