Real Estate Investing in Silver Spring, Maryland (20904)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 20904 (Silver Spring, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Silver Spring, MD (20904)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 20904 Silver Spring
ZIP 20904 in Silver Spring, MD carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $589K and rents of $1,919/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.
Rent of $1,919/mo on a $589K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 20904 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.
Statewide comparisons place 20904 among MD's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.
Who lives in 20904 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.
The right play in 20904 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Silver Spring:
Property Strategy for 20904
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $194,455 | $1,940 | 7.2% | +4.6% | $194,455 |
| 2BR | $296,252 | $2,160 | 5.2% | +6.1% | $148,126 |
| 3BR | $488,596 | $2,730 | 4.0% | +4.1% | $162,865 |
| 4BR | $641,627 | $3,200 | 3.6% | +4.9% | $160,407 |
| 5BR | $717,652 | — | — | +4.9% | $143,530 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 20904 Compare?
| Metric | 20904 | Silver Spring | Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $588,907 | $576,344 | $424,997 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.2% | 1.8% | 4.9% |
| Avg Rent | $1,919 | $1,991 | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.5% | 2.7% | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 20904 (Silver Spring, 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
Iko Community Management provides HOA and community association management services in Columbia, MD and Suburban Maryland. summary from their website
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
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $588,907 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,919 |
| Price-to-Rent | 25.6:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.9% |
| Cap Rate | 2.5% |
| 5-Year IRR | 4.8% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +0.5% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.8% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.2% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +4.2% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -7.3% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.1% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.1% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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.
Demographics in 20904
Population: 57,244
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 20904
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 1,673 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is vacancy risk in Silver Spring, MD?
Silver Spring, MD sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MD rental market.
How strong are rents in Silver Spring, MD?
Expect rents around $1,919/mo per month in Silver Spring, MD. With home values at $589K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.
Are landlord laws favorable in Silver Spring, MD?
For rental operators, Silver Spring, MD rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.
Does a duplex house hack pencil in Silver Spring, MD?
House hacking in Silver Spring, MD is reasonable to execute. Prices around $589K and rents of $1,919/mo solid owner-occupant economics.
How does Silver Spring, MD stack up for property investment?
With a 3.0/5 investability score, Silver Spring, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $589K and rents of $1,919/mo drive the underlying numbers.
You know 20904 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 20904 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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