Real Estate Investing in Waterloo, Alabama (35677)

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

Lauderdale County • Population: 1,874 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35677 (Waterloo, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 34.4% 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 Waterloo, AL (35677)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $194,315
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,923
% Renters 9.5%

Market Analysis: 35677 Waterloo

The 35677 ZIP covers a section of Waterloo that demands careful diligence. Prices near $194K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $918/mo on a $194K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 35677 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within AL, ZIP 35677 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lauderdale County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 35677 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 35677 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Waterloo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
91 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.8%
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 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$203K$179K$155K$131K$107K$83KMar 2010May 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35677 Compare?

Metric 35677 Waterloo Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Alabama
Home Value $194,315 $194,315 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35677? 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 35677 (Waterloo, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $194,315
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 17.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
34.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35677

Population: 1,874

💰 Median Household Income
$41,923
This area
$41,923
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.2 years
This area
43.2 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
34.4%
This area
34.4%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.7%
Asian 0.3%
Other/Mixed 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.0%
This area
24.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
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 35677

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,691 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Waterloo High School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
339 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,691 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

What strategy should investors use in Waterloo, AL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Waterloo, AL best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $194K price point.

How does Waterloo, AL stack up for property investment?

Waterloo, AL stands at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $194K and average rents around $918/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Is the tenant base reliable in Waterloo, AL?

The renter base in Waterloo, AL is reasonable for the $918/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

Is house hacking profitable in Waterloo, AL?

House hacking in Waterloo, AL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $194K and rents of $918/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Waterloo, AL landlord-friendly?

AL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Waterloo generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 35677 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35677 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 35677 ranks in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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