Real Estate Investing in Centre, Alabama (35983)

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

Cherokee County • Population: 3,782 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35983 (Centre, 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 35.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.9 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Centre, AL (35983)?

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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 $252,791
Avg Monthly Rent $729
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,639
% Renters 14.0%

Market Analysis: 35983 Centre

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Centre's 35983 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $253K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 35983 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 35983 and stronger Centre ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 35983 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 35983 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $253K 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 Centre:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $729/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$269K$234K$200K$165K$130K$96KFeb 2010May 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35983 Compare?

Metric 35983 Centre Alabama
Home Value $252,791 $239,079 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.6% 5.6%
Avg Rent $729 $743 -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 35983? 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 35983 (Centre, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $252,791
Monthly Rent $729
Price-to-Rent 28.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
35.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35983

Population: 3,782

💰 Median Household Income
$60,639
This area
$60,639
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.4 years
This area
42.4 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
35.5%
This area
35.5%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.1%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
23.0%
This area
23.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.6%
This area
14.6%
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 35983

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$13,755 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Sand Rock High School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
804 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,755 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

How much does a house cost in Centre, AL?

In Centre, AL the median home value sits at $253K. Against the broader AL market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Centre, AL landlord-friendly?

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

How high is vacancy risk in Centre, AL?

Vacancy risk in Centre, AL is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is Centre, AL a good market for FHA house hackers?

Centre, AL is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $253K price point reasonable to enter.

How deep is the rental pool in Centre, AL?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Centre, AL. The rental market absorbs $729/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 35983 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35983 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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