Real Estate Investing in Watervliet, New York (12189)

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

Albany County • Population: 18,205 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12189 (Watervliet, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Watervliet, NY (12189)?

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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 $320,462
Avg Monthly Rent $1,476
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,536
% Renters 60.9%

Market Analysis: 12189 Watervliet

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Watervliet's 12189 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $320K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 12189 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $320K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 12189's metrics run below Albany County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Put differently, 18,205 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.

Strategically, 12189 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Watervliet:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,476/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
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
24 days
Average time to sell
Fast
9.8%
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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 12189

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$92,675/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $261,734 $1,500 4.1% +7.6% $130,867
3BR $278,025 $1,800 4.7% +7.0% $92,675
4BR $497,016 $1,990 2.9% +7.4% $124,254
5BR $465,125 +6.4% $93,025

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$332K$298K$264K$230K$196K$162KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,547$1,487$1,426$1,366$1,306$1,245Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12189 Compare?

Metric 12189 Watervliet Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY New York
Home Value $320,462 $320,462 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,476 $1,476 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12189? Click to expand

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

61% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 12189 (Watervliet, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Albany County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

CYC Realty is an association and property management company serving Upstate New York. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

AllyPropertyManagement.com is a domain name available for sale. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $320,462
Monthly Rent $1,476
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
11.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12189

Population: 18,205

💰 Median Household Income
$57,536
This area
$57,536
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
60.9%
This area
60.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.4%
Other/Mixed 10.8%
Black/African American 9.1%
Asian 8.8%
Hispanic/Latino 5.4%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
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 12189

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$28,115 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

WATERVLIET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
662 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$28,115 Per Student
A+ Excellent

WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
731 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$28,115 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

HEATLY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
📍 171 HUDSON AVE, GREEN ISLAND
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
6.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,730 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 1,010 Off-Campus Students
C+
Russell Sage College
2,064 students · 1.3 mi
B
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
7,024 students · 2.1 mi
C
Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing
132 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Siena College
3,623 students · 2.2 mi
C
Hudson Valley Community College
9,443 students · 3.2 mi
C
Aesthetic Science Institute
157 students · 4.3 mi
D
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
385 students · 5.3 mi
C
Bryant & Stratton College-Albany
224 students · 5.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,010 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Watervliet, NY make sense for an investment property?

Watervliet, NY scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $320K and rents near $1,476/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the average monthly rent in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet, NY rentals go for roughly $1,476/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $320K acquisition costs.

Is vacancy a concern in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet, NY carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $1,476/mo.

How expensive is real estate in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet, NY home values average about $320K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,476/mo in monthly income.

What is the smart move for investors in Watervliet, NY?

For Watervliet, NY, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 12189 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 12189 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 12189 ranks in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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