Real Estate Investing in Barnesville, Maryland (20838)

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

Montgomery County • Population: 409 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 20838 (Barnesville, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• 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 Barnesville, MD (20838)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $730,366
Avg Monthly Rent $1,728
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $195,938
% Renters 1.0%

Market Analysis: 20838 Barnesville

ZIP 20838 in Barnesville, MD carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $730K and rents of $1,728/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 20838 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $730K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 20838 sits on the difficult end of the MD spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 20838 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 20838, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Barnesville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,728/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$750K$733K$716K$699K$682K$666KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 20838 Compare?

Metric 20838 Barnesville Maryland
Home Value $730,366 $738,760 $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A 2.6% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,728 $1,625 -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.7% -
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 20838 (Barnesville, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Montgomery County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

American Community Management provides community association management and HOA services across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Iko Community Management provides HOA and community association management services in Columbia, MD and Suburban Maryland. summary from their website

HOA
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Melan Property Management delivers proactive property management solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Miami. summary from their website

Small multifamilyCommercial
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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $730,366
Monthly Rent $1,728
Price-to-Rent 35.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 3.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
3.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 20838

Population: 409

💰 Median Household Income
$195,938
This area
$195,938
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
57.4%
This area
57.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.7 years
This area
34.7 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.8%
Hispanic/Latino 7.9%
Other/Mixed 7.9%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
34.5%
This area
34.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
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

🎓 Schools in 20838

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Monocacy Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 18801 Barnesville Road, Dickerson
👥
180 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,473 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

3 Nearby 3,271 Off-Campus Students
C+
The Temple-A Paul Mitchell Partner School
167 students · 13.4 mi
C
Hood College
2,078 students · 13.9 mi
C+
Montgomery College
17,780 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,271 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Barnesville, MD?

In Barnesville, MD the median home value sits at $730K. Against the broader MD market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does Barnesville, MD favor landlords or tenants?

MD ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Barnesville generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is Barnesville in MD worth investing in?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Barnesville, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $730K and rents of $1,728/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the smart move for investors in Barnesville, MD?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Barnesville, MD. The numbers - $730K homes against $1,728/mo rents - support that play.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Barnesville, MD?

Working renters make up the core of the Barnesville, MD tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 20838 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 20838 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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