Real Estate Investing in Empire, Alabama (35063)

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

Walker • Population: 3,751 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35063 (Empire, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 23.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Empire, AL (35063)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $140,232
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,750
% Renters 12.0%

Market Analysis: 35063 Empire

Investors eyeing 35063 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $140K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 35063 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $140K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 35063 among AL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 35063 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Empire averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Empire's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 35063. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Empire:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+35.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$151K$129K$108K$86K$64K$43KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35063 Compare?

Metric 35063 Empire Alabama
Home Value $140,232 $140,232 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% 5.6%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 35063? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 35063 (Empire, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $140,232
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 12.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.9%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +35.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +10.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
23.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35063

Population: 3,751

💰 Median Household Income
$53,750
This area
$53,750
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.0%
This area
12.0%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.1 years
This area
39.1 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 753 Off-Campus Students
C+
Bevill State Community College
3,946 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 753 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empire, AL a good place for real estate investing?

Empire, AL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $140K and rents near $918/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How expensive is real estate in Empire, AL?

Typical homes in Empire, AL go for around $140K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Empire, AL?

Empire, AL sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader AL rental market.

How should investors approach Empire, AL?

The best-fit strategy in Empire, AL is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Where do rents currently stand in Empire, AL?

Empire, AL rentals go for roughly $918/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $140K acquisition costs.

You know 35063 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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