Real Estate Investing in Albany, New York (12203)

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

Albany County • Population: 30,080 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12203 (Albany, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Albany, NY (12203)?

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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 $343,841
Avg Monthly Rent $1,757
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,239
% Renters 50.9%

Market Analysis: 12203 Albany

ZIP 12203 in Albany, NY carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $344K and rents of $1,757/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 12203 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $344K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 12203 sits on the difficult end of the NY spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 12203 ZIP's population of 30,080 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

tilts toward 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.

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 Albany:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,757/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 12203

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$90,465/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $222,473 $1,580 5.1% +5.6% $222,473
2BR $257,395 $1,900 5.3% +7.7% $128,698
3BR $323,991 $2,280 5.1% +7.3% $107,997
4BR $381,634 $2,520 4.8% +7.5% $95,409
5BR $452,323 +7.2% $90,465

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$357K$319K$282K$244K$207K$170KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,791$1,691$1,591$1,491$1,391$1,291Nov 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12203 Compare?

Metric 12203 Albany Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY New York
Home Value $343,841 $223,489 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,757 $1,684 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12203? Click to expand

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

51% 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 12203 (Albany, 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
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $343,841
Monthly Rent $1,757
Price-to-Rent 16.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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.

Vacancy
6.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12203

Population: 30,080

💰 Median Household Income
$75,239
This area
$75,239
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.9%
This area
50.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
53.8%
This area
53.8%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.3 years
This area
34.3 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.6%
Black/African American 10.4%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Asian 8.2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
👶 Under 18
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 12203

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$36,777 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

WESTMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,540 Per Student
A+ Excellent

PINE HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A+ Excellent

EAGLE POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,768 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

SAND CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 329 SAND CREEK RD, ALBANY
👥
882 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A+ Excellent

FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 100 FOREST DR, ALBANY
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LISHA KILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 68 WATERMAN AVE, ALBANY
👥
646 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 45 TREMONT ST, ALBANY
👥
324 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A+ Excellent

NEW SCOTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 385 NEW SCOTLAND AVE, ALBANY
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 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 202 Off-Campus Students
B
University at Albany
16,880 students · 1.4 mi
C
Excelsior University
14,477 students · 1.8 mi
C
Bryant & Stratton College-Albany
224 students · 2.4 mi
D
St. Peter's Hospital College of Nursing
125 students · 2.7 mi
C
Maria College of Albany
752 students · 2.8 mi
D
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
385 students · 3.2 mi
C
Orlo School of Hair Design and Cosmetology
60 students · 3.4 mi
C
The College of Saint Rose
2,538 students · 3.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Albany, NY?

Albany, NY carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,757/mo.

What is the average monthly rent in Albany, NY?

The typical rental in Albany, NY commands about $1,757/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $344K purchase basis.

Are homes affordable in Albany, NY?

Expect median prices around $344K in Albany, NY. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

Is Albany, NY better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

The best-fit strategy in Albany, NY is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is Albany in NY worth investing in?

Albany, NY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $344K and rents near $1,757/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 12203 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 12203 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 12203 ranks in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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