Real Estate Investing in Highland, New York (12493)

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

Ulster County • Population: 343 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12493 (Highland, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 63.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Highland, NY (12493)?

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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 $545,842
Avg Monthly Rent $1,989
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income N/A
% Renters 22.4%

Market Analysis: 12493 Highland

This part of Ulster County is not an easy win. The 12493 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,989/mo on a $546K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 12493 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Highland have seen price recovery that 12493 has not matched. Ulster County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 12493 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

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 Highland:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,989/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Kingston, NY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
55 days
Average time to sell
Average
6.2%
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 Kingston, NY metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$577K$506K$435K$364K$293K$222KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12493 Compare?

Metric 12493 Highland Kingston, NY New York
Home Value $545,842 $492,661 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 6.2% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,989 $1,961 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12493? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 12493 (Highland, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kingston, NY metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
1/2
55 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $545,842
Monthly Rent $1,989
Price-to-Rent 22.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
63.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12493

Population: 343

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
87.6%
This area
87.6%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
58.7 years
This area
58.7 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
63.6%
This area
63.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.4%
Other/Mixed 18.8%
Hispanic/Latino 18.5%
Black/African American 6.8%
👶 Under 18
4.0%
This area
4.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
42.6%
This area
42.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
-1,000.0%
This area
-1,000.0%
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

7 Nearby 2,482 Off-Campus Students
C
Culinary Institute of America
3,104 students · 3.9 mi
C+
Marist College
6,452 students · 5.3 mi
C
Dutchess Community College
6,387 students · 5.9 mi
C
Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program
85 students · 6.4 mi
B
State University of New York at New Paltz
7,420 students · 6.7 mi
B+
Vassar College
2,456 students · 8.4 mi
C
Ulster County Community College
3,001 students · 9.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,482 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Highland, NY?

Highland, NY median home values land near $546K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,989/mo-per-month rentals.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Highland, NY?

Tenant quality in Highland, NY ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,989/mo.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Highland, NY?

Highland, NY operates under NY law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the typical rental rate in Highland, NY?

Highland, NY rentals go for roughly $1,989/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $546K acquisition costs.

Is vacancy a concern in Highland, NY?

Vacancy in Highland, NY is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,989/mo.

You know 12493 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 12493 ranks in Kingston, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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