Real Estate Investing in Equality, Alabama (36026)

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

Coosa County • Population: 1,290 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36026 (Equality, 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 (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: 36.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 60.4 — 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 Equality, AL (36026)?

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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 $586,764
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,321
% Renters 7.5%

Market Analysis: 36026 Equality

The 36026 ZIP covers a section of Equality that demands careful diligence. Prices near $587K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 36026 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 36026 and stronger Equality ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 36026 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 36026 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Equality:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Alexander City, AL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.6%
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 Alexander City, AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$617K$534K$451K$368K$284K$201KJul 2008Jul 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36026 Compare?

Metric 36026 Equality Alexander City, AL Alabama
Home Value $586,764 $586,764 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.7% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.1% 1.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36026? 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 36026 (Equality, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Alexander City, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
71%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $586,764
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 60.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.7%
Cap Rate 1.1%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.1%). 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
36.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36026

Population: 1,290

💰 Median Household Income
$86,321
This area
$86,321
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.2 years
This area
54.2 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.6%
This area
36.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.4%
Black/African American 4.3%
Other/Mixed 1.2%
👶 Under 18
7.4%
This area
7.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
34.5%
This area
34.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.3%
This area
9.3%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 905 Off-Campus Students
C
Central Alabama Community College
1,910 students · 15.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 905 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Equality, AL?

The median home value in Equality, AL is roughly $587K. That puts it reasonable relative to the AL statewide average.

Are tenants stable in Equality, AL?

Working renters make up the core of the Equality, AL tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Equality, AL?

Occupancy in Equality, AL runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $810/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Equality, AL good for landlords?

For rental operators, Equality, AL rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How should investors approach Equality, AL?

Most investors in Equality, AL run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 36026 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36026 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 36026 ranks in Alexander City, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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