Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21223)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 19,793 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21223 (Baltimore, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 35.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -2.5% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 29.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $35,541 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21223)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $68,201
Avg Monthly Rent $1,536
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $35,541
% Renters 66.7%

Market Analysis: 21223 Baltimore

Investors scanning Baltimore, MD for forced-equity plays often land on the 21223 ZIP. A a solid fit for entry near $68K pairs with rents of $1,536/mo to widen the renovation window.

Flippers and value-add operators have treated 21223 as a working ZIP for a reason. Entry prices around $68K and a deep rental base of 67% renters underpin the exit strategy on both the sale and rent sides.

In Baltimore City, 21223 is part of the operational map, not the passive one. The spread between median price and renovated comp reflects the work available.

A renter-heavy, wage-earner demographic anchors 21223. Value-add players rely on that mix — the 67% share is both the tenant source and the buyer pool for future owner-occupied exits.

The strategy in 21223 is forced equity, not market equity. On the rental side, entry prices are accommodating at $68K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,536/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
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 21223

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
23.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$23,437/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $64,115 $1,450 16.3% +5.5% $64,115
2BR $77,718 $1,770 16.4% +6.8% $38,859
3BR $70,311 $2,280 23.3% +7.4% $23,437
4BR $126,397 $2,550 14.5% +7.4% $31,599
5BR $140,720 $28,144

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$96K$83K$69K$56K$43K$30KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,570$1,477$1,383$1,290$1,197$1,103Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21223 Compare?

Metric 21223 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $68,201 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,536 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 17.6% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21223? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,536/mo on homes averaging $68,201 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

67% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21223 (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
Excellent
Cap Rate
17.6%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-2.5%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $68,201
Monthly Rent $1,536
Price-to-Rent 3.7:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 27.0%
Cap Rate 17.6%
5-Year IRR 15.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.5% ▼
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 17.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (17.6%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
35.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.5%
Declining
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21223

Population: 19,793

💰 Median Household Income
$35,541
This area
$35,541
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.7%
This area
66.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.2 years
This area
39.2 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
35.7%
This area
35.7%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 74.1%
White 16.1%
Other/Mixed 8.6%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
29.4%
This area
29.4%
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 21223

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$23,862 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

James McHenry Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
610 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Frederick Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Southwest Baltimore Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at Bentalou

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
315 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
378 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Franklin Square Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
B+ Above Average

The Seed School of Maryland

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
B+ Above Average

Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
284 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
📍 128 W Franklin Street, Baltimore
👥
470 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1327 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore
👥
287 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 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

Baltimore Design School

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 1500 Barclay Street, Baltimore
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Federal Hill Preparatory Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 1040 William Street, Baltimore
👥
313 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 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 5,321 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Maryland, Baltimore
6,667 students · 1.6 mi
C
Baltimore Studio of Hair Design
39 students · 1.9 mi
B
Coppin State University
2,101 students · 1.9 mi
C+
Maryland Institute College of Art
1,861 students · 2.4 mi
C
University of Baltimore
3,101 students · 2.5 mi
C
Baltimore City Community College
3,939 students · 2.5 mi
D
University System of Maryland-Research Centers
0 students · 2.6 mi
D
University System of Maryland
0 students · 2.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,321 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD home values average about $68K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,536/mo in monthly income.

Does Baltimore, MD meet the 1% rule for rental property?

Baltimore, MD delivers a 2.25% rent-to-price ratio on average. Investors targeting the 1% rule will find solid opportunities.

How strong is Baltimore, MD for real estate investors?

With a 4.0/5 investability score, Baltimore, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $68K and rents of $1,536/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How do BRRRR numbers look in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD BRRRR deals are a strong. With proper buy-side discipline, operators can recycle most of their capital post-refinance.

How should investors approach Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD investors pursuing value-add and BRRRR deals. The underlying economics ($68K prices, $1,536/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

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How 21223 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

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