Real Estate Investing in Cowarts, Alabama (36321)

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

Houston County • Population: 2,159 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36321 (Cowarts, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Cowarts, AL (36321)?

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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 $189,063
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,964
% Renters 21.9%

Market Analysis: 36321 Cowarts

ZIP 36321 in Cowarts, AL carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $189K and rents of $810/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $189K asset, 36321 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 36321's metrics run below Houston County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 36321 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 36321 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 Cowarts:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/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
Dothan, AL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
56 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.0%
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 Dothan, AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$198K$174K$150K$125K$101K$77KNov 2010Sep 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36321 Compare?

Metric 36321 Cowarts Dothan, AL Alabama
Home Value $189,063 $189,063 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36321? 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 36321 (Cowarts, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dothan, AL metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
73%
Days Pending
1/2
56 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $189,063
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 19.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
9.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36321

Population: 2,159

💰 Median Household Income
$56,964
This area
$56,964
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.3%
This area
12.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.0 years
This area
39.0 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Other/Mixed 9.4%
Black/African American 9.2%
Hispanic/Latino 6.1%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
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

3 Nearby 1,026 Off-Campus Students
C
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
798 students · 2.4 mi
D
Fortis College-Dothan
154 students · 5.1 mi
C
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
4,010 students · 12.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,026 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do landlords charge for rent in Cowarts, AL?

Expect rents around $810/mo per month in Cowarts, AL. With home values at $189K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Cowarts, AL?

The tenant pool in Cowarts, AL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $810/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is Cowarts, AL a good place for real estate investing?

Cowarts, AL sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $189K and average rents around $810/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Which investment style suits Cowarts, AL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Cowarts, AL best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $189K price point.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Cowarts, AL?

Rental vacancy in Cowarts, AL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 36321 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 36321 ranks in Dothan, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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