Real Estate Investing in Montgomery, Alabama (36104)

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

Montgomery County • Population: 10,637 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36104 (Montgomery, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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: 24.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -2.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 45.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $31,231 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

ⓘ Read the numbers with care

  • Unusually high yield — the rent-to-price ratio here is beyond what typically survives underwriting. Verify against individual properties before relying on the cash-flow math.

What’s happening in Montgomery, AL (36104)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $57,838
Avg Monthly Rent $1,450
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $31,231
% Renters 74.2%

Market Analysis: 36104 Montgomery

Homes in the 36104 ZIP trade near $58K, a discount that has historically rewarded investors willing to renovate. Rent comps near $1,450/mo support the pro forma.

In 36104, the deal is made on the buy and on the capex. robust entry prices of $58K leave room in the budget for light-to-medium renovation, with rent lift to match.

The a credible choice for piece of regional context is that nearby ZIPs with newer stock and higher basis have priced out of the value-add game. 36104 has not.

Residents in 36104 skew younger than the county average, and that matters for rehab positioning. Younger renters respond to finishes, appliances, and in-unit laundry in ways that move rent.

The significant opportunity in 36104 is buying the worst house on the block, fixing it, and renting it at the top of the local band. That is the strategy, repeated.

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 Montgomery:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,450/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Montgomery, AL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
59 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.8%
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 Montgomery, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 36104

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
9.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+3.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$32,835/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $70,505 $900 9.2% +2.3% $35,252
3BR $98,505 $1,130 8.3% +3.3% $32,835
4BR $183,123 $1,430 5.6% +3.7% $45,781

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$149K$124K$98K$73K$48KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,549$1,511$1,474$1,436$1,399$1,361Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36104 Compare?

Metric 36104 Montgomery Montgomery, AL Alabama
Home Value $57,838 $46,686 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR N/A 3.0% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,450 $1,204 N/A -
Cap Rate 19.6% 10.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36104? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,450/mo on homes averaging $57,838 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

74% 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 36104 (Montgomery, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
19.6%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-2.8%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Montgomery, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
1/2
59 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $57,838
Monthly Rent $1,450
Price-to-Rent 3.3:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 30.1%
Cap Rate 19.6%
5-Year IRR 16.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -7.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR -2.9% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 19.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (19.6%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
24.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.8%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36104

Population: 10,637

💰 Median Household Income
$31,231
This area
$31,231
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
74.2%
This area
74.2%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.3 years
This area
33.3 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 73.1%
White 20.8%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
45.4%
This area
45.4%
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 36104

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,933 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Lanier Senior High School

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Baldwin Art And Academics Magnet

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
507 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
C+ Average

Nixon Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
445 Students
💰
$12,933 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

Highland Gardens Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2801 Willena Ave, Montgomery
👥
447 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Childrens Center

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
📍 310 N Madison Terrace, Montgomery
👥
72 Students
👨‍🏫
7.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Capitol Heights Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 116 Federal Dr, Montgomery
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Highland Avenue Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2024 Highland Avenue, Montgomery
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
C+ Average

Percy Julian High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 225 Ann St, Montgomery
👥
1,260 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 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 3,341 Off-Campus Students
C
Alabama State University
3,870 students · 2.7 mi
C
H Councill Trenholm State Community College
1,907 students · 3.7 mi
C
Huntingdon College
869 students · 3.8 mi
D
Fortis College-Montgomery
305 students · 3.9 mi
C
Faulkner University
2,933 students · 5.9 mi
D
South University-Montgomery
319 students · 7.0 mi
C+
Auburn University at Montgomery
5,189 students · 8.4 mi
D
Amridge University
636 students · 8.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,341 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montgomery, AL a smart market for rental property?

With a 4.0/5 investability score, Montgomery, AL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $58K and rents of $1,450/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the best play in Montgomery, AL?

For Montgomery, AL, value-add and BRRRR deals is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is Montgomery, AL good for BRRRR investors?

BRRRR viability in Montgomery, AL is a strong. Disciplined acquisition and rehab can hit the 75% LTV refinance target at market comps.

Is house hacking profitable in Montgomery, AL?

House hacking in Montgomery, AL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $58K and rents of $1,450/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much do tenants pay in Montgomery, AL?

Rent in Montgomery, AL is around $1,450/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $58K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 36104 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 36104 ranks in Montgomery, AL

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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