Real Estate Investing in Royal Oak, Maryland (21662)

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

Talbot County • Population: 612 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21662 (Royal Oak, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 36.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 52.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Royal Oak, MD (21662)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,113,103
Avg Monthly Rent $1,764
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $167,647
% Renters 18.8%

Market Analysis: 21662 Royal Oak

Investors eyeing 21662 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.1M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $1.1M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 21662 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 21662 and stronger Royal Oak ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Put differently, 612 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.

The right play in 21662 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 Royal Oak:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,764/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Easton, MD Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Easton, MD metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.2M$1.0M$894K$758K$622K$486KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21662 Compare?

Metric 21662 Royal Oak Easton, MD Maryland
Home Value $1,113,103 $1,113,103 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,764 $1,764 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.2% 1.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21662? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21662 (Royal Oak, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Easton, MD metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,113,103
Monthly Rent $1,764
Price-to-Rent 52.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.9%
Cap Rate 1.2%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.2%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
36.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21662

Population: 612

💰 Median Household Income
$167,647
This area
$167,647
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.8%
This area
18.8%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.2%
This area
52.2%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
56.8 years
This area
56.8 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.0%
This area
36.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.8%
Black/African American 9.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.9%
Other/Mixed 5.9%
Asian 3.5%
👶 Under 18
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.6%
This area
28.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vacancy a concern in Royal Oak, MD?

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

Is rental property easy to operate in Royal Oak, MD?

The landlord environment in Royal Oak, MD is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Is real estate in Royal Oak, MD a good investment right now?

Royal Oak, MD rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $1.1M and rents near $1,764/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the smart move for investors in Royal Oak, MD?

In Royal Oak, MD the notable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $1.1M prices and $1,764/mo rents suits that approach.

Are rents high in Royal Oak, MD?

Royal Oak, MD rentals go for roughly $1,764/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $1.1M acquisition costs.

You know 21662 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21662 ranks in Easton, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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