Real Estate Investing in Waldo, Florida (32694)

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

Alachua County • Population: 1,870 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32694 (Waldo, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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: 20.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Waldo, FL (32694)?

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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 $229,558
Avg Monthly Rent $1,287
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,854
% Renters 33.8%

Market Analysis: 32694 Waldo

Turning to rents, ZIP 32694 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $230K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 32694 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 32694 and stronger Waldo ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Meanwhile, 1,870 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 32694 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Waldo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,287/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
Gainesville, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
75 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.5%
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 Gainesville, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32694

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$83,063/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $166,126 $1,430 6.2% +6.7% $83,063
3BR $252,242 $1,820 5.2% +7.7% $84,081

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$243K$211K$179K$147K$116K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32694 Compare?

Metric 32694 Waldo Gainesville, FL Florida
Home Value $229,558 $229,558 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,287 $1,287 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32694? 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 32694 (Waldo, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Gainesville, FL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
73%
Days Pending
2/2
75 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $229,558
Monthly Rent $1,287
Price-to-Rent 14.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
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: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
20.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32694

Population: 1,870

💰 Median Household Income
$50,854
This area
$50,854
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.9%
This area
19.9%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.0 years
This area
54.0 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.2%
This area
20.2%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Black/African American 10.8%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.7%
This area
23.7%
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

5 Nearby 5,074 Off-Campus Students
C+
North Florida Technical College
81 students · 11.4 mi
C
Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine
62 students · 12.8 mi
C
Florida School of Traditional Midwifery
73 students · 13.7 mi
C
Academy for Five Element Acupuncture
55 students · 14.0 mi
C+
University of Florida-Online
5,462 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,074 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Waldo, FL make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Waldo, FL reflects its $230K prices and $1,287/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within FL.

How much is rent in Waldo, FL?

Rents in Waldo, FL run near $1,287/mo. Compared with median home prices of $230K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Waldo, FL?

Waldo, FL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $1,287/mo.

Is Waldo, FL a good market for FHA house hackers?

Waldo, FL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,287/mo rent level.

Which investment style suits Waldo, FL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Waldo, FL best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $230K price point.

You know 32694 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 32694 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 32694 ranks in Gainesville, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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