Real Estate Investing in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida (33538)

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

Sumter County • Population: 5,748 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 33538 (Lake Panasoffkee, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 22.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.7% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Lake Panasoffkee, FL (33538)?

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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 $211,909
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,306
% Renters 24.4%

Market Analysis: 33538 Lake Panasoffkee

ZIP 33538 in Lake Panasoffkee, FL carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $212K and rents of $1,116/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 33538 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within FL, ZIP 33538 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Sumter County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 33538 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 33538, 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 Lake Panasoffkee:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/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 33538

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$82,030/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $168,664 $1,240 5.3% +9.1% $84,332
3BR $246,089 $1,540 4.5% +7.9% $82,030

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$231K$197K$164K$130K$96K$63KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 33538 Compare?

Metric 33538 Lake Panasoffkee The Villages, FL Florida
Home Value $211,909 $211,909 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 33538? 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 33538 (Lake Panasoffkee, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.5%
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 $211,909
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 15.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
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
22.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 33538

Population: 5,748

💰 Median Household Income
$47,306
This area
$47,306
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.7 years
This area
46.7 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.9%
This area
22.9%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.2%
Black/African American 5.5%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.7%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.7%
This area
20.7%
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 33538

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
17.3:1 Avg Class Size
$11,984 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

LAKE PANASOFFKEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
589 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 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
C+
Withlacoochee Technical College
275 students · 9.9 mi
D
Tenaj Salon Institute
62 students · 11.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Lake Panasoffkee, FL?

Median home price in Lake Panasoffkee, FL is near $212K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the typical rental rate in Lake Panasoffkee, FL?

The typical rental in Lake Panasoffkee, FL commands about $1,116/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $212K purchase basis.

Is Lake Panasoffkee, FL good for landlords?

Lake Panasoffkee, FL falls under FL landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What investment strategy works best in Lake Panasoffkee, FL?

Most investors in Lake Panasoffkee, FL run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How strong is tenant demand in Lake Panasoffkee, FL?

Lake Panasoffkee, FL draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,116/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 33538 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 33538 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 33538 ranks in The Villages, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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