Real Estate Investing in Lake Placid, Florida (33852)

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

Highlands County • Population: 21,630 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 33852 (Lake Placid, 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 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: 28.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Lake Placid, FL (33852)?

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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 $239,681
Avg Monthly Rent $1,452
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,055
% Renters 19.7%

Market Analysis: 33852 Lake Placid

The 33852 ZIP covers a section of Lake Placid that demands careful diligence. Prices near $240K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 33852 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $240K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader FL picture, 33852 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 33852 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. healthy returns are possible in 33852, 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 Placid:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,452/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
Sebring-Avon Park, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
104 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.7%
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 Sebring-Avon Park, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 33852

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
8.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
1BR
$95,257/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $95,257 $1,120 8.5% +6.6% $95,257
2BR $211,887 $1,410 4.8% +9.3% $105,943
3BR $298,733 $1,710 4.1% +9.2% $99,578
4BR $464,020 $2,240 3.5% +9.3% $116,005
5BR $707,265 +9.2% $141,453

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$260K$222K$184K$146K$108K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,721$1,638$1,555$1,473$1,390$1,307Mar 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 33852 Compare?

Metric 33852 Lake Placid Sebring-Avon Park, FL Florida
Home Value $239,681 $239,681 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,452 $1,452 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 33852? 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 33852 (Lake Placid, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $239,681
Monthly Rent $1,452
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
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
28.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 33852

Population: 21,630

💰 Median Household Income
$54,055
This area
$54,055
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.4%
This area
18.4%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.2 years
This area
54.2 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.5%
This area
28.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.9%
Other/Mixed 11.7%
Hispanic/Latino 8.6%
Black/African American 5.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.2%
This area
35.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
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 33852

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.1:1 Avg Class Size
$13,125 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

LAKE COUNTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
628 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,125 Per Student
B Good

LAKE PLACID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
548 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,125 Per Student
B Good

LAKE PLACID MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
598 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,125 Per Student
C+ Average

LAKE PLACID HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
829 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,125 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
D
UR Beauty & Barber Academy
24 students · 14.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Placid, FL a good place for real estate investing?

Lake Placid, FL sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $240K and average rents around $1,452/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

What is the average monthly rent in Lake Placid, FL?

Expect rents around $1,452/mo per month in Lake Placid, FL. With home values at $240K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How landlord-friendly is Lake Placid, FL?

Landlord-friendliness in Lake Placid, FL is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Does house hacking work in Lake Placid, FL?

House hacking works a challenging in Lake Placid, FL. Rents of $1,452/mo against $240K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

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

Occupancy in Lake Placid, FL runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,452/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 33852 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 33852 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 33852 ranks in Sebring-Avon Park, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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