Real Estate Investing in Lakeland, Georgia (31635)

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

Lanier County • Population: 6,978 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 31635 (Lakeland, GA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
GOOD
4.0 / 5 (71/100)

A balanced market — moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 27.7% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Lakeland, GA (31635)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $210,238
Avg Monthly Rent $1,650
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,704
% Renters 37.4%

Market Analysis: 31635 Lakeland

This part of Lanier County is not an easy win. The 31635 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $210K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 31635 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within GA, ZIP 31635 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lanier County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 31635 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 31635 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 Lakeland:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,650/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Valdosta, GA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
73 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.5%
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 Valdosta, GA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 31635

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$70,366/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $214,149 $1,400 4.7% +10.4% $71,383
4BR $281,465 $1,690 4.3% +8.4% $70,366

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$223K$196K$170K$143K$117K$91KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 31635 Compare?

Metric 31635 Lakeland Valdosta, GA Georgia
Home Value $210,238 $210,238 N/A $329,538
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 7.4% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,650 $1,650 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.1% 6.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 31635? Click to expand

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

A healthy rental market with 37% 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 31635 (Lakeland, GA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
6.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Valdosta, GA metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
2/2
73 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,238
Monthly Rent $1,650
Price-to-Rent 10.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.4%
Cap Rate 6.1%
5-Year IRR 13.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
13.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 31635

Population: 6,978

💰 Median Household Income
$40,704
This area
$40,704
State
$64,001
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.4%
This area
37.4%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-18.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
-3.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.9 years
This area
34.9 years
State
10.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
15.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.2%
Black/African American 27.3%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 7.4%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
27.7%
This area
27.7%
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 31635

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,628 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lanier County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
473 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,628 Per Student
A Very Good

Lanier County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,628 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lanier County Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
837 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,628 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

Should investors consider Lakeland, GA?

Lakeland, GA shows an investability rating of 4.0/5, with median home values near $210K and average rents around $1,650/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

Is vacancy a concern in Lakeland, GA?

Lakeland, GA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What price range are homes in Lakeland, GA?

Homes in Lakeland, GA typically sell near $210K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

Is Lakeland, GA landlord-friendly?

Landlord-friendliness in Lakeland, GA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What strategy should investors use in Lakeland, GA?

In Lakeland, GA the significant play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $210K prices and $1,650/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 31635 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 31635 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 31635 ranks in Valdosta, GA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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