Real Estate Investing in Athens, Alabama (35613)

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

Limestone County • Population: 24,175 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35613 (Athens, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Athens, AL (35613)?

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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 $350,787
Avg Monthly Rent $1,893
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $96,542
% Renters 12.9%

Market Analysis: 35613 Athens

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 35613 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $351K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 35613 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader AL picture, 35613 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 35613 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

appears to 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 Athens:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,893/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
Huntsville, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
57 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
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 Huntsville, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35613

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$96,768/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $290,303 $1,810 4.5% +7.0% $96,768
4BR $401,486 $2,250 4.0% +7.6% $100,371
5BR $535,340 +8.5% $107,068

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$365K$329K$292K$256K$220K$184KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,936$1,882$1,829$1,775$1,721$1,667Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35613 Compare?

Metric 35613 Athens Huntsville, AL Alabama
Home Value $350,787 $286,388 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.8% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,893 $1,427 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35613? 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 35613 (Athens, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Huntsville, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
52%
Days Pending
1/2
57 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $350,787
Monthly Rent $1,893
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
5.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35613

Population: 24,175

💰 Median Household Income
$96,542
This area
$96,542
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.3%
This area
36.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.2 years
This area
42.2 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.7%
Black/African American 7.1%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.5%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
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 35613

C+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
18.7:1 Avg Class Size
$8,557 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Johnson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
377 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$8,557 Per Student
C Below Average

East Limestone High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
1,281 Students
👨‍🏫
20.9:1 Class Size
💰
$8,557 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

6 Nearby 1,109 Off-Campus Students
C
Athens State University
2,955 students · 4.9 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville
102 students · 12.2 mi
C
John C Calhoun State Community College
8,736 students · 12.9 mi
C+
Oakwood University
1,319 students · 13.7 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville
109 students · 13.8 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
56 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,109 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vacancy a concern in Athens, AL?

Rental vacancy in Athens, AL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What kind of tenants rent in Athens, AL?

Tenant quality in Athens, AL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,893/mo.

Is Athens, AL suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Athens, AL is a challenging. The $1,893/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $351K property.

What is the typical rental rate in Athens, AL?

Investors in Athens, AL typically see rents near $1,893/mo per month against $351K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What are home prices like in Athens, AL?

The median home value in Athens, AL is roughly $351K. That puts it reasonable relative to the AL statewide average.

You know 35613 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35613 ranks in Huntsville, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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