Real Estate Investing in Fort Payne, Alabama (35967)

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

De Kalb County • Population: 17,342 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35967 (Fort Payne, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 13.7% 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 Fort Payne, AL (35967)?

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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 $202,388
Avg Monthly Rent $720
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,639
% Renters 30.6%

Market Analysis: 35967 Fort Payne

The 35967 ZIP covers a section of Fort Payne that demands careful diligence. Prices near $202K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $202K asset, 35967 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within AL, ZIP 35967 trails on several market indicators that neighboring De Kalb County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 35967 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 35967, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Fort Payne:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $720/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Fort Payne, AL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.4%
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 Fort Payne, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35967

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$74,449/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $148,898 $800 3.9% +11.2% $74,449
3BR $225,075 $1,020 3.3% +10.2% $75,025
4BR $300,244 $1,340 3.2% +9.5% $75,061

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$212K$185K$159K$133K$107K$80KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35967 Compare?

Metric 35967 Fort Payne Fort Payne, AL Alabama
Home Value $202,388 $219,436 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.5% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $720 $711 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35967? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 35967 (Fort Payne, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fort Payne, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
67%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $202,388
Monthly Rent $720
Price-to-Rent 23.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
13.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35967

Population: 17,342

💰 Median Household Income
$45,639
This area
$45,639
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.6%
This area
30.6%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.6 years
This area
39.6 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.5%
Other/Mixed 14.3%
Hispanic/Latino 11.2%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.6%
This area
17.6%
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 35967

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,573 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Fort Payne Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
756 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,419 Per Student
B Good

Little Ridge Intermediate School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
755 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,419 Per Student
B Good

Wills Valley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
774 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,419 Per Student
B Good

Ruhuma Junior High School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
163 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,957 Per Student
B Good

Fort Payne High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,112 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,419 Per Student
B Good

Williams Avenue Elementary School

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,419 Per Student
C Below Average

Alternative School

📚 05 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$12,957 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

Which real estate strategy fits Fort Payne, AL?

The best-fit strategy in Fort Payne, AL is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Does Fort Payne, AL favor landlords or tenants?

Fort Payne, AL operates under AL law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect predictable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is Fort Payne, AL a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Fort Payne, AL will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $202K median home values and $720/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

How strong is the working-renter base in Fort Payne, AL?

Tenant demand in Fort Payne, AL is solid. The local workforce $720/mo rents across most rental classes.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Fort Payne, AL?

Fort Payne, AL vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 35967 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35967 ranks in Fort Payne, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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