Real Estate Investing in Albany, New York (12205)

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

Albany County • Population: 25,912 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12205 (Albany, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

What’s happening in Albany, NY (12205)?

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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 $339,266
Avg Monthly Rent $2,000
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,681
% Renters 28.2%

Market Analysis: 12205 Albany

The 12205 ZIP covers a section of Albany that demands careful diligence. Prices near $339K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 12205 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 12205'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.

A robust renter share of 28% in 12205 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 12205 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 Albany:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,000/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 12205

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$79,246/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $248,380 $1,890 5.5% +7.6% $124,190
3BR $317,647 $2,270 5.1% +7.0% $105,882
4BR $365,155 $2,500 4.9% +6.8% $91,289
5BR $396,232 +6.9% $79,246

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$353K$314K$276K$237K$199K$160KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,400$2,254$2,108$1,962$1,815$1,669Sep 2025Feb 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 12205 Compare?

Metric 12205 Albany Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY New York
Home Value $339,266 $223,489 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $2,000 $1,684 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12205? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 12205 (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
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $339,266
Monthly Rent $2,000
Price-to-Rent 14.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12205

Population: 25,912

💰 Median Household Income
$87,681
This area
$87,681
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.2%
This area
28.2%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.3%
This area
36.3%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.6%
Asian 8.5%
Other/Mixed 6.2%
Black/African American 5.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
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 12205

A Avg School Grade
9 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$24,819 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

SAND CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL

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

FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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

LISHA KILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

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

MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
324 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
A Very Good

ROESSLEVILLE SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A Very Good

SADDLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A Very Good

COLONIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,561 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
A Very Good

VEEDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,576 Per Student
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
2.8:1 Class Size

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

WESTMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6270 JOHNSTON RD, ALBANY
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,540 Per Student
A+ Excellent

PINE HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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

EAGLE POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1044 WESTERN AVE, ALBANY
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 700 WASHINGTON AVE, ALBANY
👥
2,768 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$40,523 Per Student
C Below Average

NYS DEPT OF CORRECTIONS PLACEMENT

📚 Grade UG Elementary Limited Data
📍 STATE CAMPUS BLDG 2, ALBANY
👥
421 Students
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 320 Off-Campus Students
C
Bryant & Stratton College-Albany
224 students · 1.7 mi
C
Excelsior University
14,477 students · 1.9 mi
C
Albany BOCES-Adult Practical Nursing Program
161 students · 1.9 mi
B
University at Albany
16,880 students · 2.2 mi
D
Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus
385 students · 3.3 mi
C
Aesthetic Science Institute
157 students · 3.6 mi
C
Orlo School of Hair Design and Cosmetology
60 students · 3.8 mi
C+
Siena College
3,623 students · 3.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Albany, NY a good investment right now?

Albany, NY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $339K and rents near $2,000/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the typical renter like in Albany, NY?

Tenant quality in Albany, NY ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $2,000/mo.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Albany, NY?

Albany, NY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($339K prices, $2,000/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What is the average home sale price in Albany, NY?

Typical homes in Albany, NY go for around $339K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

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

Occupancy in Albany, NY runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,000/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 12205 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 12205 ranks in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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