Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21231)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 14,556 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21231 (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: 15.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21231)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $301,100
Avg Monthly Rent $2,356
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $88,091
% Renters 65.0%

Market Analysis: 21231 Baltimore

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Baltimore's 21231 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $301K pricing implies.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $301K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 21231 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 21231 among MD's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

From a cash-flow lens, 14,556 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Baltimore's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 21231. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,356/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 21231

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+4.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$105,815/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $191,389 $1,790 6.7% +4.5% $191,389
2BR $273,771 $2,200 5.8% +4.5% $136,885
3BR $362,711 $2,790 5.5% +4.7% $120,904
4BR $423,260 $3,090 5.3% +4.5% $105,815

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$313K$283K$253K$223K$192K$162KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,419$2,235$2,051$1,867$1,683$1,499Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21231 Compare?

Metric 21231 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $301,100 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,356 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.1% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21231? Click to expand

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

65% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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 21231 (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
6.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $301,100
Monthly Rent $2,356
Price-to-Rent 10.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.4%
Cap Rate 6.1%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.1%). 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
15.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21231

Population: 14,556

💰 Median Household Income
$88,091
This area
$88,091
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
65.0%
This area
65.0%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
65.5%
This area
65.5%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.8 years
This area
32.8 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.1%
Black/African American 26.0%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Asian 6.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
👶 Under 18
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.9%
This area
9.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.8%
This area
19.8%
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 21231

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$23,862 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
756 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

City Springs Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
437 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Wolfe Street Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

The Crossroads School

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
163 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
B Good

Paul Laurence Dunbar High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,101 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

William Paca Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 200 N Lakewood Avenue, Baltimore
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
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

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
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 1,680 Off-Campus Students
D
University System of Maryland-Research Centers
0 students · 0.7 mi
D
University System of Maryland
0 students · 0.7 mi
C
Baltimore Studio of Hair Design
39 students · 1.5 mi
C+
University of Maryland, Baltimore
6,667 students · 1.7 mi
C
University of Baltimore
3,101 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Maryland Institute College of Art
1,861 students · 2.1 mi
C
Holistic Massage Training Institute
28 students · 2.5 mi
C
All-State Career-Baltimore
535 students · 3.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,680 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How viable is house hacking in Baltimore, MD?

House hacking works a challenging in Baltimore, MD. Rents of $2,356/mo against $301K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

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

Baltimore, MD draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $2,356/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Are there empty rentals in Baltimore, MD?

Rental vacancy in Baltimore, MD is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Baltimore, MD?

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

Does Baltimore, MD make sense for an investment property?

Our data puts Baltimore, MD at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $301K and rents around $2,356/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 21231 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21231 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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