Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21239)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 28,635 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21239 (Baltimore, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21239)?

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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 $219,254
Avg Monthly Rent $1,482
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,547
% Renters 43.7%

Market Analysis: 21239 Baltimore

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Baltimore's 21239 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $219K pricing implies.

The investment case in 21239 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $219K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Baltimore have seen price recovery that 21239 has not matched. Baltimore City data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A healthy renter share of 44% in 21239 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 21239 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $219K 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: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,482/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 21239

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$66,405/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $193,771 $1,770 6.6% +5.8% $96,886
3BR $232,954 $2,280 7.0% +6.1% $77,651
4BR $265,619 $2,550 6.9% +4.8% $66,405

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$233K$206K$178K$151K$123K$96KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,590$1,541$1,492$1,444$1,395$1,346Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21239 Compare?

Metric 21239 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $219,254 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,482 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.3% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21239? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 44% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 21239 (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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $219,254
Monthly Rent $1,482
Price-to-Rent 12.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.3%). 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
7.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21239

Population: 28,635

💰 Median Household Income
$62,547
This area
$62,547
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
43.7%
This area
43.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.6%
This area
30.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.8 years
This area
37.8 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 76.8%
White 14.7%
Other/Mixed 6.2%
Asian 2.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
👶 Under 18
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
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 21239

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$23,862 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Northwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 07 School
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Yorkwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
314 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Leith Walk Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
962 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 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+
Morgan State University
9,808 students · 1.5 mi
C
Notre Dame of Maryland University
1,836 students · 2.0 mi
C+
Loyola University Maryland
5,107 students · 2.3 mi
B
Towson University
19,527 students · 2.3 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Towson
373 students · 2.8 mi
C
Holistic Massage Training Institute
28 students · 3.1 mi
A
Johns Hopkins University
30,362 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Goucher College
1,500 students · 3.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Baltimore, MD offers a consistent renter base at the $1,482/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is Baltimore, MD a smart market for rental property?

Baltimore, MD reflects an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $219K and average rents around $1,482/mo. That combination puts it in the healthy tier for investor interest.

What are home prices like in Baltimore, MD?

In Baltimore, MD the median home value sits at $219K. Against the broader MD market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Baltimore, MD?

The house hack math a challenging in Baltimore, MD. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,482/mo rents and $219K home values.

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.

You know 21239 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21239 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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