Real Estate Investing in Boothbay, Maine (04537)

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

Lincoln County • Population: 1,687 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 04537 (Boothbay, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 36.9% 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 Boothbay, ME (04537)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $522,339
Avg Monthly Rent $1,197
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,719
% Renters 4.6%

Market Analysis: 04537 Boothbay

The 04537 ZIP covers a section of Boothbay that demands careful diligence. Prices near $522K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $522K asset, 04537 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 04537 and stronger Boothbay ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Looking more closely, 1,687 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Boothbay's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 04537. 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 Boothbay:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,197/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 04537

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$177,410/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $318,147 $1,210 2.7% +8.0% $318,147
2BR $423,519 $1,330 2.3% +8.6% $211,760
3BR $532,230 $1,830 2.5% +9.4% $177,410
4BR $729,418 $1,840 1.8% +9.8% $182,355

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$556K$487K$418K$349K$281K$212KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04537 Compare?

Metric 04537 Boothbay Maine
Home Value $522,339 $617,170 $401,109
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.7% 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,197 $1,274 -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 04537? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04537 (Boothbay, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 04537 (Boothbay, ME)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $522,339
Monthly Rent $1,197
Price-to-Rent 36.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (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.

Vacancy
36.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04537

Population: 1,687

💰 Median Household Income
$66,719
This area
$66,719
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.7%
This area
31.7%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.0 years
This area
57.0 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.9%
This area
36.9%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
Other/Mixed 1.0%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
31.6%
This area
31.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Boothbay, ME?

Expect median prices around $522K in Boothbay, ME. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

Where do rents currently stand in Boothbay, ME?

Expect rents around $1,197/mo per month in Boothbay, ME. With home values at $522K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What investment strategy works best in Boothbay, ME?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Boothbay, ME. With home values at $522K and rents near $1,197/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

How landlord-friendly is Boothbay, ME?

ME ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Boothbay generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Are tenants stable in Boothbay, ME?

The tenant pool in Boothbay, ME is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,197/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 04537 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04537 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 04537 (Boothbay)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 04537 (Boothbay, ME).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.