Real Estate Investing in Huntsville, Alabama (35806)

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

Madison County • Population: 28,443 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35806 (Huntsville, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Huntsville, AL (35806)?

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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 $367,757
Avg Monthly Rent $1,313
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,637
% Renters 50.6%

Market Analysis: 35806 Huntsville

Investors eyeing 35806 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $368K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 35806 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader AL picture, 35806 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 35806 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 35806 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $368K 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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,313/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 35806

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$102,785/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $208,954 $1,530 5.3% +7.4% $104,477
3BR $335,691 $1,970 4.2% +6.9% $111,897
4BR $411,138 $2,460 4.3% +7.2% $102,785
5BR $524,227 +6.7% $104,845

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$391K$326K$260K$195K$130K$65KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,433$1,372$1,311$1,250$1,189$1,128Dec 2020Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35806 Compare?

Metric 35806 Huntsville Huntsville, AL Alabama
Home Value $367,757 $137,420 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.4% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,313 $1,325 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35806? Click to expand

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

51% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 35806 (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 $367,757
Monthly Rent $1,313
Price-to-Rent 23.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

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

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
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
5.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35806

Population: 28,443

💰 Median Household Income
$75,637
This area
$75,637
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.6%
This area
50.6%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
58.6%
This area
58.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.0 years
This area
32.0 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.8%
Black/African American 28.1%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Asian 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
👶 Under 18
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.7%
This area
10.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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 35806

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,021 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Monrovia Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,512 Per Student
B Good

Columbia High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
940 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Monrovia Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
988 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,512 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+
Oakwood University
1,319 students · 1.9 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville
109 students · 2.4 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
56 students · 2.6 mi
C+
University of Alabama in Huntsville
8,743 students · 3.8 mi
C
Huntsville Bible College
121 students · 5.1 mi
C
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
1,011 students · 6.3 mi
C+
Alabama A & M University
6,614 students · 6.6 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville
102 students · 7.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average monthly rent in Huntsville, AL?

Expect rents around $1,313/mo per month in Huntsville, AL. With home values at $368K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville, AL sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader AL rental market.

What is the investability score for Huntsville, AL?

Yes - Huntsville, AL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $368K home prices against $1,313/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How expensive is real estate in Huntsville, AL?

Median home price in Huntsville, AL is near $368K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the best play in Huntsville, AL?

For Huntsville, AL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 35806 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35806 ranks in Huntsville, AL

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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