Real Estate Investing in Lakewood Ranch, Florida (34202)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 34202 (Lakewood Ranch, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- High vacancy: 14.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
- 1-year downturn: Values declined 5.0% in the last year.
What’s happening in Lakewood Ranch, FL (34202)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 34202 Lakewood Ranch
Investors eyeing 34202 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $657K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.
The 34202 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.
Regionally, 34202 sits on the difficult end of the FL spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.
The 34202 ZIP's population of 27,237 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.
Strategically, 34202 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.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lakewood Ranch:
Property Strategy for 34202
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $169,738 | $2,200 | 9.3% | +6.6% | $169,738 |
| 2BR | $425,942 | $2,550 | 4.3% | +7.4% | $212,971 |
| 3BR | $642,897 | $3,300 | 3.7% | +8.4% | $214,299 |
| 4BR | $878,955 | $3,940 | 3.2% | +9.6% | $219,739 |
| 5BR | $1,266,437 | — | — | +10.6% | $253,287 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 34202 Compare?
| Metric | 34202 | Lakewood Ranch | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $657,474 | $600,946 | N/A | $374,697 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 3.8% | 3.4% | N/A | 7.4% |
| Avg Rent | $2,479 | $2,453 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.9% | 3.2% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 34202 (Lakewood Ranch, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 34202 (Lakewood Ranch, FL)?
~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous
Property managers serving Manatee County
Manage rentals here? List your business →All County Pros is a full-service residential property management company in Sarasota, FL, serving Sarasota and Bradenton, focused on maximizing rental property revenue. summary from their website
At the Helm Property Management, LLC provides association management services in Bradenton, FL, including full-service accounting, property inspections, and association meeting support. summary from their website
Gulf Coast Property Management serves investors in Manatee & Sarasota counties, offering annual, vacation, and association management, as well as home watch services. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $657,474 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,479 |
| Price-to-Rent | 22.1:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.5% |
| Cap Rate | 2.9% |
| 5-Year IRR | 6.7% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | -5.0% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -4.7% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.8% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +4.7% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -11.4% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -4.3% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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.
Demographics in 34202
Population: 27,237
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 34202
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 814 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is housing expensive in Lakewood Ranch, FL?
The median home value in Lakewood Ranch, FL is roughly $657K. That puts it reasonable relative to the FL statewide average.
Is Lakewood Ranch, FL a friendly market for rental owners?
FL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Lakewood Ranch generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
How deep is the rental pool in Lakewood Ranch, FL?
Tenant demand in Lakewood Ranch, FL is solid. The local workforce $2,479/mo rents across most rental classes.
Do rentals sit vacant long in Lakewood Ranch, FL?
Lakewood Ranch, FL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $2,479/mo.
Can I house hack in Lakewood Ranch, FL?
House hacking works a challenging in Lakewood Ranch, FL. Rents of $2,479/mo against $657K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.
You know 34202 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 34202 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.
How 34202 ranks in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
AI Market Advisor
Ask questions about investing in 34202 (Lakewood Ranch)
Community Ratings
What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.
Be the first to rate 34202 (Lakewood Ranch, FL).
It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.