Real Estate Investing in Mary Esther, Florida (32569)

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

Okaloosa County • Population: 12,643 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32569 (Mary Esther, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Mary Esther, FL (32569)?

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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 $322,212
Avg Monthly Rent $2,045
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,426
% Renters 30.6%

Market Analysis: 32569 Mary Esther

Turning to rents, ZIP 32569 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $322K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $2,045/mo on a $322K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 32569 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within FL, ZIP 32569 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Okaloosa County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

On the rental side, 12,643 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.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Mary Esther:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,045/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
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
106 days
Average time to sell
Slow
6.8%
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 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32569

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$96,313/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $220,296 $1,710 5.6% +6.8% $110,148
3BR $312,415 $2,350 5.4% +5.7% $104,138
4BR $385,250 $2,850 5.3% +5.9% $96,313
5BR $706,313 +6.2% $141,263

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$347K$303K$258K$214K$170K$125KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,131$2,049$1,967$1,886$1,804$1,722Oct 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32569 Compare?

Metric 32569 Mary Esther Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Florida
Home Value $322,212 $322,212 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,045 $2,045 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32569? 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 →
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 32569 (Mary Esther, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $322,212
Monthly Rent $2,045
Price-to-Rent 13.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
7.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32569

Population: 12,643

💰 Median Household Income
$70,426
This area
$70,426
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.6%
This area
30.6%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.3%
This area
40.3%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.2 years
This area
36.2 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.3%
Other/Mixed 14.8%
Black/African American 11.6%
Asian 8.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.3%
👶 Under 18
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.9%
This area
14.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
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 32569

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,274 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

FLOROSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
531 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,274 Per Student
B Good

MARY ESTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,274 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

1 Nearby 290 Off-Campus Students
C
Okaloosa Technical College
429 students · 8.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What approach is best for Mary Esther, FL real estate?

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

Is Mary Esther, FL a friendly market for rental owners?

Mary Esther, FL falls under FL landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the typical rental rate in Mary Esther, FL?

Investors in Mary Esther, FL typically see rents near $2,045/mo per month against $322K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Is Mary Esther, FL good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Mary Esther, FL. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,045/mo rents and $322K home values.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Mary Esther, FL?

Rental vacancy in Mary Esther, FL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 32569 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 32569 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 32569 ranks in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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