Real Estate Investing in Birmingham, Alabama (35211)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 25,267 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35211 (Birmingham, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 21.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.1% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 30.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $32,677 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Birmingham, AL (35211)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $76,101
Avg Monthly Rent $1,423
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $32,677
% Renters 58.4%

Market Analysis: 35211 Birmingham

The 35211 ZIP in Birmingham is not a pristine, turnkey story — it is a value-add map. Stock is older, prices near $76K are approachable, and upside sits in the rehab line.

ZIP 35211 favors investors with a contractor on speed dial. Meanwhile, the turnkey yield looks ordinary, a renovated unit pulls stronger rent than the unrenovated $1,423/mo average.

Relative to AL, 35211 reads as a working-capital ZIP — prices below average, renter share elevated at 58%, and room for operator-led upside.

Household income in 35211 supports the rent-lift thesis. 25,267 residents, deep working-age cohort, and the kind of tenant profile that responds to upgraded stock.

Strategic fit here is operational. Pro forma discipline, capex reserves, and lender relationships matter more than the marketing pitch.

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 Birmingham:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,423/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.3%
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 Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35211

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
15.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$26,284/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $53,719 $1,150 15.4% +10.6% $26,859
3BR $78,853 $1,440 13.1% +7.6% $26,284
4BR $115,056 $1,640 10.3% +6.3% $28,764

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$112K$96K$79K$63K$47K$31KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,525$1,398$1,271$1,143$1,016$889Jul 2021Jan 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35211 Compare?

Metric 35211 Birmingham Birmingham-Hoover, AL Alabama
Home Value $76,101 $172,809 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 1.1% 2.1% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,423 $1,275 N/A -
Cap Rate 14.6% 7.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35211? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,423/mo on homes averaging $76,101 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

58% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 35211 (Birmingham, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Jefferson County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Signal Property Management serves Adamsville, Birmingham, Calera, East Lake, and Ensley, offering services for tenants and owners including rent payment and repair requests. 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
Excellent
Cap Rate
14.6%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+1.1%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $76,101
Monthly Rent $1,423
Price-to-Rent 4.5:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 22.4%
Cap Rate 14.6%
5-Year IRR 15.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 14.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (14.6%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
21.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.1%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35211

Population: 25,267

💰 Median Household Income
$32,677
This area
$32,677
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
58.4%
This area
58.4%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.3%
This area
21.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.3%
This area
21.3%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 80.5%
White 10.3%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
23.5%
This area
23.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
30.4%
This area
30.4%
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 35211

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,867 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Hemphill Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
339 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Richard Arrington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

Oxmoor K5

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

West End Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Wenonah High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2800 Wilson Rd SW, Birmingham
👥
669 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

Green Acres Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1220 67th Street West, Birmingham
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

Jones Valley Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2000 31st Street SW, Birmingham
👥
447 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

Midfield High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1600 High School Rd, Midfield
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,625 Per Student
B Good

Rutledge School

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 1221 8th St, Midfield
👥
314 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,625 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 1,479 Off-Campus Students
D
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
339 students · 0.8 mi
C+
Lawson State Community College
3,153 students · 1.1 mi
D
Midfield Institute of Cosmetology
13 students · 2.4 mi
D
Herzing University-Birmingham
448 students · 2.4 mi
C
Miles College
1,151 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Birmingham-Southern College
731 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Samford University
5,791 students · 4.6 mi
C+
University of Alabama at Birmingham
21,160 students · 5.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,479 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham, AL investors pursuing value-add and BRRRR deals. The underlying economics ($76K prices, $1,423/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Can I house hack in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham, AL is a an attractive market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $76K price point reasonable to enter.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Birmingham, AL?

Rental rates in Birmingham, AL average $1,423/mo. Tenant demand and $76K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does the BRRRR strategy work in Birmingham, AL?

BRRRR works a strong in Birmingham, AL. With $76K ARVs and $1,423/mo rents, investors who buy right can refinance out most of their capital.

What price range are homes in Birmingham, AL?

Median home price in Birmingham, AL is near $76K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 35211 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35211 ranks in Birmingham-Hoover, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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