Real Estate Investing in Tavares, Florida (32778)

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

Lake County • Population: 25,099 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32778 (Tavares, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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

📈 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: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Tavares, FL (32778)?

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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 $312,096
Avg Monthly Rent $2,095
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,071
% Renters 22.8%

Market Analysis: 32778 Tavares

The 32778 ZIP covers a section of Tavares that demands careful diligence. Prices near $312K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 32778 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Turning to rents, 32778 offers a low basis, the region around Tavares has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 32778 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 32778, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Tavares:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,095/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
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
71 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.3%
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 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32778

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+11.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$82,388/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $107,321 $1,340 9.0% +11.0% $107,321
2BR $229,297 $1,520 4.8% +6.8% $114,648
3BR $310,776 $1,920 4.4% +7.2% $103,592
4BR $369,414 $2,320 4.5% +7.0% $92,354
5BR $411,941 +6.3% $82,388

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$340K$291K$242K$194K$145K$97KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,191$2,046$1,901$1,756$1,610$1,465Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32778 Compare?

Metric 32778 Tavares Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Florida
Home Value $312,096 $312,096 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,095 $2,095 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32778? 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 32778 (Tavares, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Lake County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Towers Property Management provides community association management services to homeowners associations and condominium associations in Central Florida, including Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Gunn Property Services offers full-service Leesburg property management to owners and investors, helping find and apply for rental homes in Leesburg and The Villages. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

MOSAIC® provides property management services in Central Florida. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $312,096
Monthly Rent $2,095
Price-to-Rent 12.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +12.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32778

Population: 25,099

💰 Median Household Income
$57,071
This area
$57,071
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.5 years
This area
53.5 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.5%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Black/African American 10.0%
Hispanic/Latino 7.5%
Asian 2.0%
👶 Under 18
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.2%
This area
35.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 32778

C Avg School Grade
7 Schools
19.3:1 Avg Class Size
$11,078 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

TAVARES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
839 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,078 Per Student
C+ Average

TAVARES MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
998 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,078 Per Student
C+ Average

PINECREST ACADEMY TAVARES

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
918 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,078 Per Student
C Below Average

TAVARES HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,488 Students
👨‍🏫
23.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,078 Per Student
C Below Average

NONSCHOOL EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
24 Students
💰
$11,078 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

LAKE COUNTY ACER PROGRAM

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
4 Students
💰
$11,078 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

NON SCHOOL PK

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
👥
4 Students
💰
$11,078 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

3 Nearby 2,150 Off-Campus Students
C
Lake Technical College
822 students · 4.6 mi
C
Lake-Sumter State College
5,064 students · 5.5 mi
C+
Beacon College
527 students · 9.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,150 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Tavares, FL?

Median home price in Tavares, FL is near $312K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Which real estate strategy fits Tavares, FL?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Tavares, FL. The numbers - $312K homes against $2,095/mo rents - support that play.

How tight is the rental market in Tavares, FL?

Vacancy risk in Tavares, FL is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Tavares, FL?

FL law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Tavares inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Is the tenant base reliable in Tavares, FL?

The renter base in Tavares, FL is reasonable for the $2,095/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

You know 32778 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 32778 ranks in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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