Real Estate Investing in Montgomery, Alabama (36109)

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

Montgomery County • Population: 24,093 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36109 (Montgomery, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Montgomery, AL (36109)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $155,697
Avg Monthly Rent $1,332
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,053
% Renters 35.4%

Market Analysis: 36109 Montgomery

Investors eyeing 36109 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $156K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $1,332/mo on a $156K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 36109 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In practical terms, 36109 offers a low basis, the region around Montgomery has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A durable renter share of 35% in 36109 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 36109 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,332/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.
⚖️
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 36109

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$47,683/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $105,320 $1,030 7.0% +7.1% $52,660
3BR $143,050 $1,320 6.6% +7.2% $47,683
4BR $197,883 $1,560 5.7% +6.3% $49,471
5BR $257,902 +5.5% $51,580

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$162K$148K$135K$121K$108K$94KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,366$1,276$1,185$1,095$1,005$914Apr 2021Dec 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36109 Compare?

Metric 36109 Montgomery Montgomery, AL Alabama
Home Value $155,697 $46,686 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 3.0% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,332 $1,204 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.7% 10.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36109? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 35% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 36109 (Montgomery, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.7%
Good
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📉 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 $155,697
Monthly Rent $1,332
Price-to-Rent 9.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.3%
Cap Rate 6.7%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.7%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
10.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36109

Population: 24,093

💰 Median Household Income
$58,053
This area
$58,053
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.3%
This area
29.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.5 years
This area
39.5 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.7%
Black/African American 36.7%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
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 36109

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
20.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,933 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Flowers Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Dalraida Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
669 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
B Good

Morningview Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
C+ Average

Goodwyn Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
757 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

Forest Avenue Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1700 W 5th St, Montgomery
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,933 Per Student
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

Vaughn Road Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4407 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 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
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
D
Fortis College-Montgomery
305 students · 0.7 mi
C
Faulkner University
2,933 students · 1.4 mi
D
South University-Montgomery
319 students · 3.4 mi
C
Huntingdon College
869 students · 3.6 mi
C
Alabama State University
3,870 students · 3.6 mi
C+
Auburn University at Montgomery
5,189 students · 3.9 mi
D
Amridge University
636 students · 4.2 mi
C
H Councill Trenholm State Community College
1,907 students · 6.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tenant quality in Montgomery, AL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $1,332/mo.

What is it like being a landlord in Montgomery, AL?

The landlord environment in Montgomery, AL is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Which investment style suits Montgomery, AL?

In Montgomery, AL the robust play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $156K prices and $1,332/mo rents suits that approach.

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

House hacking in Montgomery, AL is a challenging. With home values around $156K and rents at $1,332/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Montgomery, AL?

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

You know 36109 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 36109 ranks in Montgomery, AL

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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