Real Estate Investing in Secretary, Maryland (21664)

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

Dorchester County • Population: 598 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21664 (Secretary, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (43/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Secretary, MD (21664)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $234,901
Avg Monthly Rent $1,179
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,458
% Renters 38.3%

Market Analysis: 21664 Secretary

Investors eyeing 21664 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $235K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 21664 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Put differently, 21664 offers a low basis, the region around Secretary has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 21664 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategy in 21664 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $235K 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 Secretary:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,179/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Cambridge, MD Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.5%
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 Cambridge, MD metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$241K$231K$220K$209K$198K$187KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21664 Compare?

Metric 21664 Secretary Cambridge, MD Maryland
Home Value $234,901 $234,901 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,179 $1,179 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21664? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21664 (Secretary, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cambridge, MD metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
65%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $234,901
Monthly Rent $1,179
Price-to-Rent 16.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
13.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21664

Population: 598

💰 Median Household Income
$66,458
This area
$66,458
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.3%
This area
38.3%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.1%
This area
14.1%
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
13.0%
This area
13.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.2%
Other/Mixed 23.6%
Hispanic/Latino 22.1%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
34.4%
This area
34.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.8%
This area
9.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
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 21664

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$25,193 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Warwick Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,193 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Secretary, MD?

Secretary, MD home values average about $235K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,179/mo in monthly income.

How strong is the working-renter base in Secretary, MD?

Tenant demand in Secretary, MD is solid. The local workforce $1,179/mo rents across most rental classes.

Should investors consider Secretary, MD?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Secretary, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $235K and rents of $1,179/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Secretary, MD?

Occupancy in Secretary, MD runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,179/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What does house hacking look like in Secretary, MD?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Secretary, MD reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 21664 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21664 ranks in Cambridge, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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