Real Estate Investing in Panama City, Florida (32404)

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

Bay County • Population: 42,117 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32404 (Panama City, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Panama City, FL (32404)?

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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 $288,185
Avg Monthly Rent $1,870
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,230
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 32404 Panama City

The 32404 ZIP in Panama City, FL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $288K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 32404 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Panama City have seen price recovery that 32404 has not matched. Bay County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 32404 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 32404 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $288K 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 Panama City:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,870/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
Panama City, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
118 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.0%
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 Panama City, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32404

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$76,668/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $164,372 $1,600 7.0% +7.3% $82,186
3BR $260,497 $2,060 5.7% +5.8% $86,832
4BR $331,107 $2,560 5.6% +5.0% $82,777
5BR $383,338 +5.3% $76,668

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$305K$269K$233K$196K$160K$124KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,969$1,835$1,701$1,567$1,433$1,299Jan 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32404 Compare?

Metric 32404 Panama City Panama City, FL Florida
Home Value $288,185 $130,871 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.4% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,870 $1,943 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32404? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 32404 (Panama City, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Panama City, FL metro

5/10
Elevated Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
79%
Days Pending
2/2
118 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $288,185
Monthly Rent $1,870
Price-to-Rent 12.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.8%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). 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
13.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32404

Population: 42,117

💰 Median Household Income
$66,230
This area
$66,230
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.8%
This area
18.8%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.3 years
This area
38.3 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.8%
Black/African American 12.8%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Asian 3.0%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
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 32404

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
18.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,335 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

CALLAWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
B Good

DEER POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
707 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
B Good

PARKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
B Good

NORTH BAY HAVEN CHARTER ACADEMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
694 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
B Good

MERRITT BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
B Good

TOMMY SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
731 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
C+ Average

NORTH BAY HAVEN CHARTER ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 Per Student
C Below Average

NORTH BAY HAVEN CAREER ACADEMY

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
882 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,335 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

2 Nearby 2,135 Off-Campus Students
C
Tom P. Haney Technical College
464 students · 8.1 mi
C+
Gulf Coast State College
4,959 students · 12.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,135 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Panama City, FL?

Panama City, FL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,870/mo.

What do rentals go for in Panama City, FL?

Rent in Panama City, FL is around $1,870/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $288K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the typical renter like in Panama City, FL?

The tenant pool in Panama City, FL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,870/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How should investors approach Panama City, FL?

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

Is Panama City in FL worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Panama City, FL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $288K and rents of $1,870/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 32404 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 32404 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 32404 ranks in Panama City, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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