Real Estate Investing in Sarasota, Florida (34243)

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

Manatee County • Population: 31,773 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34243 (Sarasota, 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: 16.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Sarasota, FL (34243)?

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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 $397,905
Avg Monthly Rent $2,076
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,236
% Renters 22.1%

Market Analysis: 34243 Sarasota

On balance, ZIP 34243 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $398K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 34243 is impressive only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $398K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Turning to rents, 34243 offers a low basis, the region around Sarasota has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 34243 ZIP's population of 31,773 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Sarasota:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,076/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
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
90 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.8%
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 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 34243

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$136,267/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $161,786 $2,070 9.2% +6.6% $161,786
2BR $321,623 $2,400 5.4% +6.1% $160,811
3BR $414,932 $3,110 5.4% +6.8% $138,311
4BR $545,067 $3,710 4.9% +7.6% $136,267
5BR $699,602 +8.3% $139,920

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$486K$416K$345K$275K$204K$134KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,352$2,098$1,844$1,590$1,336$1,082Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34243 Compare?

Metric 34243 Sarasota North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Florida
Home Value $397,905 $474,987 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.6% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,076 $2,236 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34243? 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 34243 (Sarasota, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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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

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

HOA
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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

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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
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $397,905
Monthly Rent $2,076
Price-to-Rent 16.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
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
16.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34243

Population: 31,773

💰 Median Household Income
$77,236
This area
$77,236
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.1%
This area
22.1%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.4%
This area
41.4%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.8 years
This area
52.8 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.0%
Other/Mixed 10.8%
Hispanic/Latino 8.8%
Asian 3.7%
Black/African American 2.6%
👶 Under 18
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
31.4%
This area
31.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
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 34243

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,252 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

FLORINE J ABEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,252 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MARJORIE G. KINNAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
527 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,252 Per Student
C+ Average

EASTER SEALS

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
20 Students
👨‍🏫
1.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,252 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

EMMA E. BOOKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2350 DR MARTIN LUTHER KING WAY, SARASOTA
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,758 Per Student
A Very Good

BAY HAVEN SCHOOL OF BASICS PLUS

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2901 W TAMIAMI CIR, SARASOTA
👥
578 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,758 Per Student
B+ Above Average

BOOKER MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2250 MYRTLE ST, SARASOTA
👥
961 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,758 Per Student
B Good

CHILDREN FIRST

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 1723 N ORANGE AVE, SARASOTA
👥
30 Students
👨‍🏫
3.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,758 Per Student
B Good

BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3201 N ORANGE AVE, SARASOTA
👥
1,395 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,758 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 2,992 Off-Campus Students
B
New College of Florida
732 students · 2.2 mi
C
Sarasota School of Massage Therapy
76 students · 2.7 mi
D
East West College of Natural Medicine
57 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Ringling College of Art and Design
1,722 students · 3.1 mi
B
Manatee Technical College
1,117 students · 4.3 mi
C
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
8,411 students · 4.6 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Sarasota
98 students · 4.7 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota
404 students · 6.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,992 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota, FL rentals go for roughly $2,076/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $398K acquisition costs.

What are home prices like in Sarasota, FL?

Median home price in Sarasota, FL is near $398K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Sarasota, FL?

Vacancy in Sarasota, FL is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,076/mo.

What is the best play in Sarasota, FL?

Sarasota, FL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($398K prices, $2,076/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How strong is Sarasota, FL for real estate investors?

Sarasota, FL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $398K and rents near $2,076/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 34243 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 34243 ranks in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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