Real Estate Investing in Crystal River, Florida (34428)

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

Citrus County • Population: 9,325 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34428 (Crystal River, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 18.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Crystal River, FL (34428)?

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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 $296,380
Avg Monthly Rent $1,763
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,075
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 34428 Crystal River

The 34428 ZIP in Crystal River, FL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $296K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 34428 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Crystal River have seen price recovery that 34428 has not matched. Citrus County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

On balance, 9,325 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 34428 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $296K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Crystal River:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,763/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
Homosassa Springs, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
96 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.0%
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 Homosassa Springs, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 34428

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$104,069/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $223,341 $1,080 3.5% +8.5% $111,670
3BR $312,207 $1,520 3.5% +9.4% $104,069
4BR $470,760 $1,820 2.8% +9.8% $117,690

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$324K$276K$227K$178K$129K$81KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,982$1,918$1,855$1,792$1,728$1,665Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34428 Compare?

Metric 34428 Crystal River Homosassa Springs, FL Florida
Home Value $296,380 $275,052 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 3.9% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,763 $1,865 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 5.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34428? 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 34428 (Crystal River, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Homosassa Springs, FL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
73%
Days Pending
2/2
96 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $296,380
Monthly Rent $1,763
Price-to-Rent 14.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
18.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34428

Population: 9,325

💰 Median Household Income
$50,075
This area
$50,075
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.9%
This area
19.9%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.4 years
This area
54.4 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.7%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Asian 2.0%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
12.9%
This area
12.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
31.3%
This area
31.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.4%
This area
23.4%
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 34428

C+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
18.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,891 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

CRYSTAL RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
667 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,891 Per Student
C+ Average

CRYSTAL RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
911 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,891 Per Student
C+ Average

CRYSTAL RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,312 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,891 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Crystal River, FL make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Crystal River, FL reflects its $296K prices and $1,763/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within FL.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Crystal River, FL?

Average rent in Crystal River, FL is approximately $1,763/mo per month. Against $296K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Which investment style suits Crystal River, FL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Crystal River, FL best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $296K price point.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Crystal River, FL?

Crystal River, FL sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader FL rental market.

Does house hacking work in Crystal River, FL?

House hacking in Crystal River, FL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $296K and rents of $1,763/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 34428 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 34428 ranks in Homosassa Springs, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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