Real Estate Investing in Birmingham, Alabama (35235)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 19,600 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35235 (Birmingham, 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 (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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Birmingham, AL (35235)?

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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 $188,283
Avg Monthly Rent $1,390
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,476
% Renters 35.5%

Market Analysis: 35235 Birmingham

Investors eyeing 35235 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $188K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 35235 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $188K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 35235 and stronger Birmingham ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

On balance, 19,600 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.

The right play in 35235 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,390/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 35235

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$51,136/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $124,643 $1,360 7.9% +5.3% $62,322
3BR $177,627 $1,700 6.9% +5.4% $59,209
4BR $216,782 $1,930 6.4% +5.0% $54,195
5BR $255,678 +4.5% $51,136

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$198K$173K$149K$124K$100K$75KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,475$1,365$1,255$1,144$1,034$923May 2018Jun 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35235 Compare?

Metric 35235 Birmingham Birmingham-Hoover, AL Alabama
Home Value $188,283 $172,809 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 2.1% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,390 $1,275 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 7.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35235? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 35235 (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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
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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
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $188,283
Monthly Rent $1,390
Price-to-Rent 11.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR 0.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
9.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35235

Population: 19,600

💰 Median Household Income
$59,476
This area
$59,476
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.5%
This area
35.5%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.9%
This area
28.9%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.5 years
This area
37.5 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 64.0%
White 30.7%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Asian 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.0%
This area
17.0%
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

6 Nearby 2,604 Off-Campus Students
C
Jefferson State Community College
8,839 students · 4.1 mi
D
Strayer University-Alabama
1,596 students · 11.5 mi
C+
University of Alabama at Birmingham
21,160 students · 11.5 mi
C+
Samford University
5,791 students · 13.4 mi
C+
Birmingham-Southern College
731 students · 13.6 mi
D
Herzing University-Birmingham
448 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,604 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Birmingham, AL?

Rental rates in Birmingham, AL average $1,390/mo. Tenant demand and $188K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Birmingham, AL?

Occupancy in Birmingham, AL runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,390/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How does Birmingham, AL rate as a rental market?

Investors tracking Birmingham, AL will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $188K median home values and $1,390/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

What price range are homes in Birmingham, AL?

In Birmingham, AL the median home value sits at $188K. Against the broader AL market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How deep is the rental pool in Birmingham, AL?

Working renters make up the core of the Birmingham, AL tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 35235 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35235 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 35235 ranks in Birmingham-Hoover, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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