Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21215)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 52,078 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21215 (Baltimore, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 16.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21215)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $159,542
Avg Monthly Rent $1,335
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,523
% Renters 45.6%

Market Analysis: 21215 Baltimore

Stepping back, ZIP 21215 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $160K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 21215 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $160K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 21215's metrics run below Baltimore City's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 21215 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 21215 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $160K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,335/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 21215

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
11.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$56,293/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $91,087 $1,450 11.5% +10.8% $91,087
2BR $121,356 $1,770 10.5% +8.2% $60,678
3BR $168,879 $2,280 9.7% +6.5% $56,293
4BR $226,657 $2,550 8.1% +5.6% $56,664
5BR $335,305 +6.7% $67,061

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$176K$153K$129K$106K$83K$60KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,462$1,351$1,240$1,130$1,019$908Jul 2018Jul 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21215 Compare?

Metric 21215 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $159,542 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 1.6% 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,335 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.5% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21215? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 21215 (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
6.5%
Good
5yr Growth
+1.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $159,542
Monthly Rent $1,335
Price-to-Rent 10.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.0%
Cap Rate 6.5%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.5%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
16.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21215

Population: 52,078

💰 Median Household Income
$49,523
This area
$49,523
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.6%
This area
45.6%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.6 years
This area
42.6 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 75.2%
White 18.0%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.9%
This area
15.9%
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 21215

A Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$23,238 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Fallstaff Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
539 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Park Heights Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent
👥
288 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Arlington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
521 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Cross Country Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
660 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Creative City Public Charter School

📚 K – 07 School Charter
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Callaway Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 07 School
👥
219 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Milbrook Elementary

📚 01 – 05 Elementary
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,242 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pimlico Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
764 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 5025 Dickey Hill Road, Baltimore
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Empowerment Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
📍 851 Braddish Avenue, Baltimore
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Summit Park Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 6920 Diana Rd, Baltimore
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,242 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Edgewood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1900 Edgewood Street, Baltimore
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Academy for College and Career Exploration

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 1300 W 36th Street, Baltimore
👥
957 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 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 3,641 Off-Campus Students
B
Women's Institute of Torah Seminary and College
191 students · 1.4 mi
C
Baltimore City Community College
3,939 students · 2.1 mi
C
Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore
91 students · 2.4 mi
B
Coppin State University
2,101 students · 2.7 mi
C+
Loyola University Maryland
5,107 students · 3.3 mi
C
Notre Dame of Maryland University
1,836 students · 3.4 mi
A
Johns Hopkins University
30,362 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Maryland Institute College of Art
1,861 students · 4.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,641 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are landlord laws favorable in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD falls under MD landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How deep is the rental pool in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,335/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is the median home value in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD median home values land near $160K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,335/mo-per-month rentals.

How viable is house hacking in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,335/mo rent level.

Is Baltimore, MD a good place for real estate investing?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Baltimore, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $160K and rents of $1,335/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 21215 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21215 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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