Real Estate Investing in Wildwood, Florida (34785)

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

Sumter County • Population: 17,895 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34785 (Wildwood, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Wildwood, FL (34785)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $272,202
Avg Monthly Rent $1,627
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,496
% Renters 36.9%

Market Analysis: 34785 Wildwood

ZIP 34785 inside Sumter County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $272K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $272K asset, 34785 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In practical terms, 34785 offers a low basis, the region around Wildwood has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From a cash-flow lens, 17,895 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, 34785 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 Wildwood:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,627/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
The Villages, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.1%
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 The Villages, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 34785

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$82,919/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $165,839 $1,280 5.6% +7.1% $82,919
3BR $286,196 $1,600 4.0% +7.5% $95,399
4BR $351,225 $1,870 3.8% +6.7% $87,806

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$295K$254K$214K$174K$134K$93KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,737$1,668$1,600$1,531$1,462$1,393May 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34785 Compare?

Metric 34785 Wildwood The Villages, FL Florida
Home Value $272,202 $272,202 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,627 $1,627 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34785? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 34785 (Wildwood, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on The Villages, FL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
82%
Days Pending
1/2
60 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $272,202
Monthly Rent $1,627
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34785

Population: 17,895

💰 Median Household Income
$42,496
This area
$42,496
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.9%
This area
36.9%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.1 years
This area
42.1 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 59.8%
Black/African American 31.9%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 6.2%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.4%
This area
18.4%
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 34785

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$11,984 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
658 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,984 Per Student
B Good

WILDWOOD MIDDLE/ HIGH SCHOOL

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
737 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,984 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
D
Tenaj Salon Institute
62 students · 6.2 mi
C+
Beacon College
527 students · 11.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Wildwood, FL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $272K and rents near $1,627/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What do landlords charge for rent in Wildwood, FL?

Expect rents around $1,627/mo per month in Wildwood, FL. With home values at $272K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Wildwood, FL?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Wildwood, FL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What price range are homes in Wildwood, FL?

Median home price in Wildwood, FL is near $272K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What type of investing works in Wildwood, FL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Wildwood, FL best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $272K price point.

You know 34785 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 34785 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 34785 ranks in The Villages, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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