Real Estate Investing in Menands, New York (12204)

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

Albany County • Population: 8,423 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12204 (Menands, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 8.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Menands, NY (12204)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $358,911
Avg Monthly Rent $2,236
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,260
% Renters 71.8%

Market Analysis: 12204 Menands

This part of Albany County is not an easy win. The 12204 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $359K asset, 12204 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Put differently, 12204 offers a low basis, the region around Menands has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The demographic picture in 12204 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Menands averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategy in 12204 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $359K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Menands:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,236/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 12204

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$98,057/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $215,240 $1,740 5.8% +8.9% $107,620
3BR $294,171 $2,090 5.1% +7.0% $98,057
4BR $468,541 $2,300 3.5% +7.6% $117,135
5BR $664,693 +8.2% $132,939

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$372K$334K$296K$257K$219K$181KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,252$2,206$2,159$2,112$2,066$2,019Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12204 Compare?

Metric 12204 Menands Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY New York
Home Value $358,911 $358,911 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $2,236 $2,236 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12204? Click to expand

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

72% 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 12204 (Menands, 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
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $358,911
Monthly Rent $2,236
Price-to-Rent 13.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
8.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12204

Population: 8,423

💰 Median Household Income
$70,260
This area
$70,260
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
71.8%
This area
71.8%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.8%
This area
45.8%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.4 years
This area
33.4 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.0%
Black/African American 29.6%
Other/Mixed 14.1%
Asian 9.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
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 12204

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
8.2:1 Avg Class Size
$36,169 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

NORTH ALBANY ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
7.7:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MENANDS SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$31,814 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

SOUTHGATE SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 30 SOUTHGATE RD, LOUDONVILLE
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,360 Per Student
A+ Excellent

ARBOR HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1 ARBOR DR, ALBANY
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LOUDONVILLE SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 349 OSBORNE RD, LOUDONVILLE
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,360 Per Student
A+ Excellent

SHERIDAN PREPARATORY ACADEMY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 400 SHERIDAN AVE, ALBANY
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A Very Good

ROOTS ACADEMY AT WEST HILL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 676 CLINTON AVE, ALBANY
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 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 1,010 Off-Campus Students
C
Hudson Valley Community College
9,443 students · 2.4 mi
C+
Siena College
3,623 students · 2.4 mi
D
SUNY-System Office
0 students · 2.9 mi
C
Orlo School of Hair Design and Cosmetology
60 students · 3.0 mi
D
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
385 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Russell Sage College
2,064 students · 3.3 mi
C
The College of Saint Rose
2,538 students · 3.3 mi
C
Albany Medical College
834 students · 3.4 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Menands, NY a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Menands, NY will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $359K median home values and $2,236/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

How strict are landlord regulations in Menands, NY?

Rental owners in Menands, NY deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Which real estate strategy fits Menands, NY?

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

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Menands, NY?

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

Is it easy to find good tenants in Menands, NY?

Tenant demand in Menands, NY is solid. The local workforce $2,236/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 12204 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 12204 ranks in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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