Real Estate Investing in Fairplay, Maryland (21733)

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

Washington County • Population: 1,240 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21733 (Fairplay, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Fairplay, MD (21733)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $413,641
Avg Monthly Rent $1,242
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,313
% Renters 13.4%

Market Analysis: 21733 Fairplay

The 21733 ZIP covers a section of Fairplay that demands careful diligence. Prices near $414K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 21733 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $414K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 21733 among MD's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Stepping back, 1,240 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.

Strategically, 21733 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Fairplay:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,242/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$435K$386K$338K$289K$241K$192KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21733 Compare?

Metric 21733 Fairplay Maryland
Home Value $413,641 $413,641 $424,997
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,242 $1,242 -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 21733? 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 21733 (Fairplay, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $413,641
Monthly Rent $1,242
Price-to-Rent 27.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21733

Population: 1,240

💰 Median Household Income
$83,313
This area
$83,313
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.9%
Other/Mixed 23.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.9%
Black/African American 4.7%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

7 Nearby 1,844 Off-Campus Students
D
Award Beauty School
132 students · 6.6 mi
C
Hagerstown Community College
5,433 students · 7.4 mi
C+
Shepherd University
3,318 students · 8.4 mi
D
Valley College-Martinsburg
651 students · 11.6 mi
C
Martinsburg College
3,228 students · 11.6 mi
B
James Rumsey Technical Institute
137 students · 11.8 mi
C
International Beauty School 4
86 students · 12.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,844 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Fairplay, MD?

Median home price in Fairplay, MD is near $414K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What approach is best for Fairplay, MD real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Fairplay, MD is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What is the renter demographic in Fairplay, MD?

Tenant quality in Fairplay, MD ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,242/mo.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Fairplay, MD?

Fairplay, MD is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $414K price point reasonable to enter.

Is Fairplay, MD a smart market for rental property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Fairplay, MD reflects its $414K prices and $1,242/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MD.

You know 21733 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21733 ranks in Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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