Real Estate Investing in Arab, Alabama (35016)

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

Marshall County • Population: 17,435 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35016 (Arab, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Arab, AL (35016)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $244,822
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,440
% Renters 26.0%

Market Analysis: 35016 Arab

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Arab's 35016 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $245K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 35016 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $245K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 35016 sits on the difficult end of the AL spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 35016 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Arab averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 35016 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Arab:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Albertville, AL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.6%
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 Albertville, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35016

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$78,623/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $157,246 $1,020 4.7% +9.7% $78,623
3BR $241,734 $1,280 3.8% +9.8% $80,578
4BR $351,674 $1,430 2.9% +9.4% $87,918
5BR $431,521 +8.4% $86,304

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$259K$227K$195K$163K$131K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35016 Compare?

Metric 35016 Arab Albertville, AL Alabama
Home Value $244,822 $244,822 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35016? 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 35016 (Arab, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Albertville, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $244,822
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 22.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

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.

Vacancy
9.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35016

Population: 17,435

💰 Median Household Income
$55,440
This area
$55,440
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.0%
This area
26.0%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.8%
This area
20.8%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.4 years
This area
39.4 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.6%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.6%
This area
11.6%
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 35016

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
17.8:1 Avg Class Size
$12,369 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Arab High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
747 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,740 Per Student
B Good

Arab Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,740 Per Student
B Good

Arab Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
703 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,740 Per Student
B Good

Brindlee Mountain Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
248 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,887 Per Student
B Good

Arab Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
595 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,740 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

Is Arab, AL better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Arab, AL. With home values at $245K and rents near $918/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

How strong are rents in Arab, AL?

Arab, AL rentals go for roughly $918/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $245K acquisition costs.

What is the typical renter like in Arab, AL?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Arab, AL. The rental market absorbs $918/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Arab, AL?

Rental owners in Arab, AL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Is Arab, AL good for house hacking?

House hacking works a challenging in Arab, AL. Rents of $918/mo against $245K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 35016 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35016 ranks in Albertville, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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