Real Estate Investing in Huntsville, Alabama (35805)

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

Madison County • Population: 21,006 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35805 (Huntsville, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 12.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.3% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 30.6% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $30,365 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Huntsville, AL (35805)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $152,582
Avg Monthly Rent $1,194
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $30,365
% Renters 68.4%

Market Analysis: 35805 Huntsville

Stepping back, ZIP 35805 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $153K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,194/mo on a $153K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 35805 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Huntsville have seen price recovery that 35805 has not matched. Madison County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 35805 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.

seems 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 Huntsville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,194/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 35805

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$57,899/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $139,847 $1,130 5.8% +12.1% $69,923
3BR $173,698 $1,450 6.0% +9.6% $57,899
4BR $232,318 $1,770 5.5% +9.6% $58,080

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$177K$151K$124K$98K$71K$45KJul 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,351$1,247$1,143$1,038$934$830May 2020Jul 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35805 Compare?

Metric 35805 Huntsville Huntsville, AL Alabama
Home Value $152,582 $137,420 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 1.3% 3.4% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,194 $1,325 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.1% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35805? Click to expand

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

68% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 35805 (Huntsville, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+1.3%
Slow

📉 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 $152,582
Monthly Rent $1,194
Price-to-Rent 10.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.4%
Cap Rate 6.1%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -3.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.1%). 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
12.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35805

Population: 21,006

💰 Median Household Income
$30,365
This area
$30,365
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
68.4%
This area
68.4%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.9 years
This area
30.9 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.3%
This area
12.3%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 46.1%
Black/African American 33.4%
Other/Mixed 20.0%
Hispanic/Latino 15.8%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.8%
This area
10.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
30.6%
This area
30.6%
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 35805

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,040 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

McDonnell Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
445 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Morris Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
409 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Ridgecrest Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
B Good

Morris Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
527 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Providence Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
951 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Huntsville Center For Technology

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,040 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

Sonnie Hereford Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 2755 Wilson Drive, Huntsville
👥
570 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 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 990 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Alabama in Huntsville
8,743 students · 1.5 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
56 students · 2.7 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville
109 students · 3.0 mi
C
Huntsville Bible College
121 students · 3.3 mi
C+
Oakwood University
1,319 students · 3.7 mi
C
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
1,011 students · 5.2 mi
C+
Alabama A & M University
6,614 students · 6.0 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville
102 students · 7.7 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?

Yes - Huntsville, AL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $153K home prices against $1,194/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville, AL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $1,194/mo.

How should investors approach Huntsville, AL?

In Huntsville, AL the sturdy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $153K prices and $1,194/mo rents suits that approach.

What does house hacking look like in Huntsville, AL?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Huntsville, AL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is Huntsville, AL a friendly market for rental owners?

Huntsville, AL falls under AL landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 35805 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35805 ranks in Huntsville, AL

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