Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21212)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 33,425 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21212 (Baltimore, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21212)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $347,427
Avg Monthly Rent $1,908
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,014
% Renters 31.2%

Market Analysis: 21212 Baltimore

Investors eyeing 21212 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $347K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $347K asset, 21212 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 21212 among MD's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 21212 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 21212 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Baltimore:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,908/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
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.9%
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 21212

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$86,444/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $150,686 $1,450 6.9% +6.3% $150,686
2BR $172,888 $1,770 7.4% +7.5% $86,444
3BR $350,662 $2,280 4.7% +5.4% $116,887
4BR $511,452 $2,550 3.6% +5.2% $127,863
5BR $751,797 +5.8% $150,359

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$360K$327K$294K$261K$228K$195KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,954$1,822$1,689$1,557$1,425$1,292Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21212 Compare?

Metric 21212 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $347,427 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,908 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21212? 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 21212 (Baltimore, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Baltimore City County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Real Property Management Reliable Solutions is a property management company serving Baltimore, MD. summary from their website

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RPR Property Management, LLC provides property management services for rental properties. summary from their website

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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
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $347,427
Monthly Rent $1,908
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
8.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21212

Population: 33,425

💰 Median Household Income
$94,014
This area
$94,014
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.2%
This area
31.2%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.1%
This area
55.1%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 50.6%
Black/African American 37.4%
Other/Mixed 8.2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Asian 3.8%
👶 Under 18
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.4%
This area
15.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 21212

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$21,453 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Govans Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
403 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Tunbridge Public Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
818 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Rodgers Forge Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,242 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle

📚 K – 08 School
👥
35 Students
👨‍🏫
3.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dumbarton Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,071 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,242 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stoneleigh Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
641 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,242 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 100 E 26th Street, Baltimore
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Abbottston Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1300 Gorsuch Avenue, Baltimore
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Barclay Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2900 Barclay Street, Baltimore
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2800 Ailsa Avenue, Baltimore
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Reginald F. Lewis High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 6401 Pioneer Drive, Baltimore
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 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

8 Nearby 2,150 Off-Campus Students
C
Notre Dame of Maryland University
1,836 students · 1.2 mi
C+
Loyola University Maryland
5,107 students · 1.5 mi
B
Towson University
19,527 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Morgan State University
9,808 students · 2.3 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Towson
373 students · 2.5 mi
A
Johns Hopkins University
30,362 students · 2.7 mi
C+
Goucher College
1,500 students · 3.1 mi
C
Holistic Massage Training Institute
28 students · 3.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,150 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD rentals go for roughly $1,908/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $347K acquisition costs.

What strategy should investors use in Baltimore, MD?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Baltimore, MD. With home values at $347K and rents near $1,908/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

What is the investability score for Baltimore, MD?

Yes - Baltimore, MD a 3.0/5 investability score. With $347K home prices against $1,908/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What does house hacking look like in Baltimore, MD?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Baltimore, MD reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How strict are landlord regulations in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD operates under MD law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect predictable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

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How 21212 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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