Real Estate Investing in Lake Alfred, Florida (33850)

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

Polk County • Population: 9,825 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 33850 (Lake Alfred, 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 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: 22.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Lake Alfred, FL (33850)?

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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 $310,202
Avg Monthly Rent $2,048
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,801
% Renters 29.9%

Market Analysis: 33850 Lake Alfred

In practical terms, ZIP 33850 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $310K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $310K asset, 33850 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 33850's metrics run below Polk County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 33850 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 33850 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Alfred:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,048/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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 33850

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$83,481/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $166,963 $1,260 5.4% +6.7% $83,481
3BR $281,584 $1,700 4.3% +8.0% $93,861
4BR $341,206 $2,110 4.5% +7.5% $85,302

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$339K$286K$232K$179K$125K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,063$2,019$1,976$1,932$1,888$1,845Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 33850 Compare?

Metric 33850 Lake Alfred Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Florida
Home Value $310,202 $310,202 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,048 $2,048 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 33850? 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 33850 (Lake Alfred, 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
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $310,202
Monthly Rent $2,048
Price-to-Rent 12.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.9%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
22.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 33850

Population: 9,825

💰 Median Household Income
$49,801
This area
$49,801
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.9%
This area
29.9%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 61.4%
Other/Mixed 17.8%
Hispanic/Latino 13.8%
Black/African American 13.1%
Asian 7.6%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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 33850

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,580 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

KAREN M. SIEGEL ACADEMY

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
159 Students
👨‍🏫
6.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

LAKE ALFRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
880 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
812 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

LAKE ALFRED POLYTECH ACADEMY

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
767 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
C+ Average

DISCOVERY ACADEMY OF LAKE ALFRED

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
911 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 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

8 Nearby 1,351 Off-Campus Students
C
Ridge Technical College
375 students · 5.5 mi
C
Polk State College
7,963 students · 6.1 mi
C+
Florida Polytechnic University
1,618 students · 7.3 mi
C
Southeastern University
10,400 students · 12.9 mi
B
Traviss Technical College
512 students · 13.0 mi
C+
Ruben's Five Star Academy
11 students · 13.4 mi
C
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland
192 students · 13.9 mi
C+
Florida Southern College
3,194 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,351 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical vacancy rate in Lake Alfred, FL?

Vacancy in Lake Alfred, FL is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,048/mo.

Is the tenant base reliable in Lake Alfred, FL?

The tenant pool in Lake Alfred, FL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,048/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How does Lake Alfred, FL rate as a rental market?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lake Alfred, FL reflects its $310K prices and $2,048/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within FL.

Is house hacking profitable in Lake Alfred, FL?

Lake Alfred, FL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,048/mo rent level.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Lake Alfred, FL?

In Lake Alfred, FL the notable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $310K prices and $2,048/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 33850 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 33850 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 33850 ranks in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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