Real Estate Investing in Huntsville, Alabama (35801)

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

Madison County • Population: 23,901 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35801 (Huntsville, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Huntsville, AL (35801)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $397,775
Avg Monthly Rent $1,427
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $97,643
% Renters 32.7%

Market Analysis: 35801 Huntsville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Huntsville's 35801 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $398K pricing implies.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $398K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 35801 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within AL, ZIP 35801 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Madison County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 35801 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.

Strategy in 35801 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $398K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Huntsville:

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 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,427/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 35801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$126,549/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $253,193 $1,430 4.1% +7.1% $126,596
3BR $379,648 $1,850 3.5% +7.6% $126,549
4BR $591,628 $2,300 2.8% +7.7% $147,907
5BR $801,420 +7.4% $160,284

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$429K$355K$281K$207K$133K$59KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,510$1,338$1,167$995$824$652Aug 2016Aug 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35801 Compare?

Metric 35801 Huntsville Huntsville, AL Alabama
Home Value $397,775 $137,420 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.4% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,427 $1,325 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35801? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 35801 (Huntsville, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
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 $397,775
Monthly Rent $1,427
Price-to-Rent 23.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35801

Population: 23,901

💰 Median Household Income
$97,643
This area
$97,643
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.7%
This area
32.7%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
53.9%
This area
53.9%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.7 years
This area
40.7 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Black/African American 10.2%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 35801

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
16.2:1 Avg Class Size
$13,040 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Academy For Science Foreign Language

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Blossomwood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
584 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Monte Sano Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Huntsville Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Huntsville High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,802 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
C Below Average

Child Count Only

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
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 990 Off-Campus Students
C
Huntsville Bible College
121 students · 2.5 mi
C
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
1,011 students · 3.3 mi
C+
Alabama A & M University
6,614 students · 4.0 mi
C+
University of Alabama in Huntsville
8,743 students · 4.4 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
56 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Oakwood University
1,319 students · 5.5 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville
109 students · 5.6 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville
102 students · 11.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 990 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Huntsville, AL clocks in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $398K and average rents around $1,427/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

What are rental rates like in Huntsville, AL?

Average rent in Huntsville, AL is approximately $1,427/mo per month. Against $398K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Huntsville, AL?

Occupancy in Huntsville, AL runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,427/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How expensive is real estate in Huntsville, AL?

The median home value in Huntsville, AL is roughly $398K. That puts it reasonable relative to the AL statewide average.

What does house hacking look like in Huntsville, AL?

For house hackers, Huntsville, AL is a challenging. The $1,427/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $398K property.

You know 35801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35801 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 35801 ranks in Huntsville, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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