Real Estate Investing in Mulberry, Florida (33860)

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

Polk County • Population: 25,617 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 33860 (Mulberry, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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: 10.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Mulberry, FL (33860)?

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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 $287,565
Avg Monthly Rent $1,741
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,429
% Renters 32.1%

Market Analysis: 33860 Mulberry

Stepping back, ZIP 33860 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $288K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,741/mo on a $288K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 33860 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Mulberry have seen price recovery that 33860 has not matched. Polk County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A resilient renter share of 32% in 33860 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 33860 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 Mulberry:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,741/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
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
81 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 33860

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$78,993/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $157,986 $1,390 6.3% +5.6% $78,993
3BR $287,699 $1,880 4.7% +7.2% $95,900
4BR $349,110 $2,330 4.8% +7.1% $87,278
5BR $433,202 +6.8% $86,640

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$322K$271K$221K$170K$119K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,869$1,780$1,691$1,601$1,512$1,422Aug 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 33860 Compare?

Metric 33860 Mulberry Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Florida
Home Value $287,565 $287,565 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.3% 4.3% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,741 $1,741 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 33860? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 33860 (Mulberry, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Polk County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

All County Polk is a full-service residential property management company in Lakeland, FL, serving Lakeland and surrounding areas in Polk County. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Paragon Property Services, LLC offers full-service home inspection services in Central Florida, including Lake, Sumter, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Volusia, and Cit summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

PMI Arrico Realty and Property Management offers residential property management, investment services, and real estate services in Lakeland, FL. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $287,565
Monthly Rent $1,741
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
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
10.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 33860

Population: 25,617

💰 Median Household Income
$62,429
This area
$62,429
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.1 years
This area
33.1 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.0%
Other/Mixed 23.4%
Hispanic/Latino 21.4%
Black/African American 11.0%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
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 33860

C+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
19.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,580 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

PURCELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

WILLOW OAK SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
C+ Average

MULBERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,176 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
C Below Average

MULBERRY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,399 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 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

1 Nearby
B
Traviss Technical College
512 students · 14.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mulberry, FL rate as a rental market?

Yes - Mulberry, FL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $288K home prices against $1,741/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Are rents high in Mulberry, FL?

Investors in Mulberry, FL typically see rents near $1,741/mo per month against $288K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Which real estate strategy fits Mulberry, FL?

In Mulberry, FL the durable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $288K prices and $1,741/mo rents suits that approach.

Is Mulberry, FL suited for a house hack?

Mulberry, FL is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $288K price point reasonable to enter.

How tight is the rental market in Mulberry, FL?

Occupancy in Mulberry, FL runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,741/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 33860 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 33860 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 33860 ranks in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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