Real Estate Investing in Merritt Island, Florida (32952)

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

Brevard County • Population: 21,354 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32952 (Merritt Island, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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: 17.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Merritt Island, FL (32952)?

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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 $440,415
Avg Monthly Rent $2,328
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,148
% Renters 14.5%

Market Analysis: 32952 Merritt Island

ZIP 32952 in Merritt Island, FL carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $440K and rents of $2,328/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 32952 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $440K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Turning to rents, 32952 offers a low basis, the region around Merritt Island has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Turning to rents, 21,354 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.

Strategically, 32952 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Merritt Island:

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 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,328/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 32952

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$115,169/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $230,339 $1,630 5.1% +6.2% $115,169
3BR $387,748 $2,220 4.1% +6.9% $129,249
4BR $574,986 $2,520 3.2% +7.6% $143,746
5BR $972,527 +8.5% $194,505

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$480K$411K$342K$274K$205K$136KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,372$2,247$2,122$1,996$1,871$1,746Feb 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32952 Compare?

Metric 32952 Merritt Island Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Florida
Home Value $440,415 $433,704 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 3.9% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,328 $2,281 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32952? 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 32952 (Merritt Island, 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
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $440,415
Monthly Rent $2,328
Price-to-Rent 15.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +22.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
17.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32952

Population: 21,354

💰 Median Household Income
$87,148
This area
$87,148
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
44.4%
This area
44.4%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.5 years
This area
50.5 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.6%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.5%
Asian 2.5%
Black/African American 1.7%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
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 32952

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,592 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

AUDUBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
420 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good
👥
505 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

TROPICAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B Good

THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
543 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student

Nearby Schools (4 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

FREEDOM 7 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

📚 K – 06 School
📍 400 S 4TH ST, COCOA BEACH
👥
408 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
B+ Above Average

THEODORE ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1400 MINUTEMEN CSWY, COCOA BEACH
👥
268 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
C+ Average

PROJECT SEARCH

📚 Grade 12 High School
📍 701 W COCOA CAUSEWAY, COCOA BEACH
👥
48 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,592 Per Student
C+ Average

COCOA BEACH JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 1500 MINUTEMEN CSWY, COCOA BEACH
👥
1,029 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 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

2 Nearby 4,610 Off-Campus Students
C
Academy of Cosmetology
121 students · 5.7 mi
B
Eastern Florida State College
13,601 students · 10.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,610 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Merritt Island, FL?

Occupancy in Merritt Island, FL runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,328/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How strong are rents in Merritt Island, FL?

The typical rental in Merritt Island, FL commands about $2,328/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $440K purchase basis.

What is the best play in Merritt Island, FL?

For Merritt Island, FL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How strong is the working-renter base in Merritt Island, FL?

The renter base in Merritt Island, FL is reasonable for the $2,328/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

Is real estate in Merritt Island, FL a good investment right now?

Merritt Island, FL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $440K and rents near $2,328/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 32952 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 32952 ranks in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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