Real Estate Investing in Portland, Maine (04101)

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

Cumberland County • Population: 18,128 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04101 (Portland, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 8.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Portland, ME (04101)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $657,586
Avg Monthly Rent $2,382
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,513
% Renters 78.1%

Market Analysis: 04101 Portland

The 04101 ZIP in Portland, ME is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $658K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 04101 is notable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $658K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within ME, ZIP 04101 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cumberland County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 04101 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Portland averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 04101 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Portland:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 12.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,382/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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 04101

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$237,480/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $472,859 $1,710 2.6% +7.5% $472,859
2BR $716,438 $2,190 2.2% +7.8% $358,219
3BR $860,566 $2,660 2.2% +8.6% $286,855
4BR $949,918 $2,900 2.2% +8.8% $237,480

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$705K$603K$501K$399K$297K$195KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,529$2,281$2,032$1,784$1,535$1,287Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04101 Compare?

Metric 04101 Portland Portland-South Portland, ME Maine
Home Value $657,586 $210,345 N/A $401,109
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 5.5% N/A 8.6%
Avg Rent $2,382 $2,283 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 04101? Click to expand

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

78% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04101 (Portland, 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

Single-familyCommercial
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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

Single-familySmall multifamily
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Aquarius Property Management offers property management services in Greater Portland, including Portland, South Portland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $657,586
Monthly Rent $2,382
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
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
8.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04101

Population: 18,128

💰 Median Household Income
$54,513
This area
$54,513
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
78.1%
This area
78.1%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.6%
This area
55.6%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.7 years
This area
36.7 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.8%
Black/African American 11.2%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.8%
Asian 2.5%
👶 Under 18
7.7%
This area
7.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
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 04101

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,015 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

East End Community School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Portland High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
968 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
B Good

Baxter Academy for Tech & Sciences

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,070 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Amanda C Rowe School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 23 Orono RD, Portland
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gerald E Talbot Community School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1600 Forest AV, Portland
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
8.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harrison Lyseth Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 175 Auburn ST, Portland
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Howard C Reiche Community Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 166 Brackett ST, Portland
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 Per Student
A+ Excellent

King Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 92 Deering AV, Portland
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,987 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

7 Nearby 2,551 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Maine
118 students · 0.4 mi
C
Maine College of Art & Design
474 students · 0.5 mi
C+
University of Southern Maine
7,528 students · 0.8 mi
D
Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts
93 students · 0.9 mi
C
Southern Maine Community College
7,205 students · 1.8 mi
C
Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook
261 students · 4.0 mi
C
Northeast Technical Institute
274 students · 4.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,551 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Portland, ME stack up for property investment?

Portland, ME rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $658K and rents near $2,382/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Portland, ME?

Median home price in Portland, ME is near $658K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Portland, ME?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Portland, ME best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $658K price point.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Portland, ME?

Portland, ME operates under ME law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How tight is the rental market in Portland, ME?

Portland, ME vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 04101 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04101 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 04101 ranks in Portland-South Portland, ME

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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