Real Estate Investing in Freehold, New York (12431)

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

Greene County • Population: 1,705 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12431 (Freehold, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 25.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.3 — 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 Freehold, NY (12431)?

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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 $357,518
Avg Monthly Rent $1,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,688
% Renters 10.9%

Market Analysis: 12431 Freehold

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Freehold's 12431 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $358K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 12431 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader NY picture, 12431 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 12431 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 12431 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 Freehold:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,017/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 12431

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$117,036/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $263,908 $1,130 3.1% +10.5% $131,954
3BR $351,108 $1,550 3.2% +9.8% $117,036

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$374K$327K$279K$232K$185K$138KMay 2006Jun 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12431 Compare?

Metric 12431 Freehold New York
Home Value $357,518 $357,518 $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,017 $1,017 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 12431? 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 12431 (Freehold, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $357,518
Monthly Rent $1,017
Price-to-Rent 29.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
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: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
25.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12431

Population: 1,705

💰 Median Household Income
$83,688
This area
$83,688
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.2 years
This area
46.2 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.2%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.4%
This area
15.4%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 547 Off-Campus Students
C
Columbia-Greene Community College
1,696 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 547 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Freehold, NY for investors?

Freehold, NY sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $358K and average rents around $1,017/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

Is housing expensive in Freehold, NY?

The median home value in Freehold, NY is roughly $358K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NY statewide average.

What are rental rates like in Freehold, NY?

The typical rental in Freehold, NY commands about $1,017/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $358K purchase basis.

Is Freehold, NY good for house hacking?

For house hackers, Freehold, NY is a challenging. The $1,017/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $358K property.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Freehold, NY?

Occupancy in Freehold, NY runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,017/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 12431 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 12431 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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