Real Estate Investing in Port Saint Lucie, Florida (34986)

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

Saint Lucie County • Population: 29,713 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34986 (Port Saint Lucie, 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: 15.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Port Saint Lucie, FL (34986)?

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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 $373,928
Avg Monthly Rent $2,283
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,350
% Renters 16.1%

Market Analysis: 34986 Port Saint Lucie

Meanwhile, ZIP 34986 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $374K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 34986 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $374K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Port Saint Lucie have seen price recovery that 34986 has not matched. Saint Lucie County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 34986 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

trends 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 Port Saint Lucie:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,283/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
Port St. Lucie, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
95 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.2%
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 Port St. Lucie, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 34986

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$108,597/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $176,140 $1,660 6.8% +6.4% $176,140
2BR $285,173 $1,990 5.0% +6.0% $142,587
3BR $393,111 $2,740 5.0% +7.1% $131,037
4BR $474,682 $2,920 4.4% +7.8% $118,671
5BR $542,987 +7.9% $108,597

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$439K$376K$314K$251K$188K$125KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,343$2,267$2,190$2,114$2,038$1,961Feb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34986 Compare?

Metric 34986 Port Saint Lucie Port St. Lucie, FL Florida
Home Value $373,928 $383,904 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 4.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $2,283 $2,353 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34986? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 34986 (Port Saint Lucie, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Port St. Lucie, FL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
74%
Days Pending
2/2
95 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $373,928
Monthly Rent $2,283
Price-to-Rent 13.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
15.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34986

Population: 29,713

💰 Median Household Income
$80,350
This area
$80,350
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.0%
This area
35.0%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.3 years
This area
57.3 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.7%
Black/African American 16.2%
Other/Mixed 15.5%
Hispanic/Latino 12.6%
Asian 2.6%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
36.9%
This area
36.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 34986

C Avg School Grade
9 Schools
19.9:1 Avg Class Size
$11,649 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

C+ Average

RENAISSANCE CHARTER SCHOOL OF ST. LUCIE

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
1,415 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C+ Average

SOMERSET ACADEMY BETHANY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
482 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C+ Average

ST LUCIE COUNTY JAIL - ROCK ROAD ACADEMY

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
24 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C+ Average

MANATEE ACADEMY K-8

📚 K – 08 School
👥
1,723 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C+ Average

ST. LUCIE WEST K-8 SCHOOL

📚 K – 08 School
👥
1,663 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C+ Average

WEST GATE K-8 SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
1,582 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C Below Average

HOMEBOUND PROGRAM

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$11,649 Per Student
C Below Average

ST. LUCIE WEST CENTENNIAL HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,702 Students
👨‍🏫
23.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

SOMERSET COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
1,387 Students
👨‍🏫
31.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,649 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

4 Nearby 3,821 Off-Campus Students
D
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie
472 students · 6.5 mi
C+
Indian River State College
15,104 students · 7.2 mi
C+
Fort Pierce Beauty Academy
30 students · 7.6 mi
C
Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology
314 students · 11.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,821 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Port Saint Lucie, FL?

Yes - Port Saint Lucie, FL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $374K home prices against $2,283/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Which investment style suits Port Saint Lucie, FL?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Port Saint Lucie, FL. With home values at $374K and rents near $2,283/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

What do rentals go for in Port Saint Lucie, FL?

Average rent in Port Saint Lucie, FL is approximately $2,283/mo per month. Against $374K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How strong is the working-renter base in Port Saint Lucie, FL?

The renter base in Port Saint Lucie, FL is reasonable for the $2,283/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Port Saint Lucie, FL?

Occupancy in Port Saint Lucie, FL runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,283/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 34986 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 34986 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 34986 ranks in Port St. Lucie, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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