Real Estate Investing in Palm Bay, Florida (32909)

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

Brevard County • Population: 39,611 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32909 (Palm Bay, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Palm Bay, FL (32909)?

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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 $319,759
Avg Monthly Rent $2,013
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,783
% Renters 17.6%

Market Analysis: 32909 Palm Bay

ZIP 32909 inside Brevard County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $320K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 32909 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

From a cash-flow lens, 32909 offers a low basis, the region around Palm Bay has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 32909 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 32909 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 Palm Bay:

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 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,013/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
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 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 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32909

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$87,937/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $207,106 $1,740 6.0% +6.8% $103,553
3BR $291,395 $2,370 5.9% +7.0% $97,132
4BR $351,747 $2,690 5.5% +6.5% $87,937
5BR $444,467 +6.9% $88,893

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$364K$305K$246K$187K$128K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,100$1,878$1,657$1,435$1,213$992Jun 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32909 Compare?

Metric 32909 Palm Bay Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Florida
Home Value $319,759 $294,757 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 3.9% 3.9% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,013 $1,958 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32909? 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 32909 (Palm Bay, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Brevard County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Solutions Property Management LLC offers residential, multi-family, commercial, and community association property management services in Melbourne, including marketing, tenant screening, rent collect summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercialHOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Aamerican Property Management provides services for renters, including rental FAQs, online applications, online payments, and maintenance requests. summary from their website

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All Brevard Property Management is a property management company. 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
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $319,759
Monthly Rent $2,013
Price-to-Rent 13.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
8.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32909

Population: 39,611

💰 Median Household Income
$71,783
This area
$71,783
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.9%
This area
23.9%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.1 years
This area
39.1 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.7%
Black/African American 19.9%
Other/Mixed 18.6%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Asian 3.8%
👶 Under 18
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
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 32909

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$11,592 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

JOHN F. TURNER SENIOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ROYAL PALM CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
342 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
559 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

ODYSSEY PREPARATORY CHARTER ACADEMY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
457 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
899 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
868 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
C Below Average

ODYSSEY CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,913 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 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
C+
Florida Institute of Technology
8,516 students · 11.3 mi
C
Florida Institute of Technology-Online
1,071 students · 11.3 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Melbourne
132 students · 12.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Palm Bay, FL?

Vacancy risk in Palm Bay, FL is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is the tenant base reliable in Palm Bay, FL?

The renter base in Palm Bay, FL is reasonable for the $2,013/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

What do rentals go for in Palm Bay, FL?

Average rent in Palm Bay, FL is approximately $2,013/mo per month. Against $320K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Which real estate strategy fits Palm Bay, FL?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Palm Bay, FL. The numbers - $320K homes against $2,013/mo rents - support that play.

What is the investability score for Palm Bay, FL?

Yes - Palm Bay, FL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $320K home prices against $2,013/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 32909 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 32909 ranks in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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