Real Estate Investing in Red Level, Alabama (36474)

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

Covington County • Population: 2,523 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36474 (Red Level, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 25.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 29.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $39,348 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Red Level, AL (36474)?

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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 $164,406
Avg Monthly Rent $702
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $39,348
% Renters 13.8%

Market Analysis: 36474 Red Level

This part of Covington County is not an easy win. The 36474 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $164K asset, 36474 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 36474 and stronger Red Level ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 36474 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 36474 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 Red Level:

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 (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $702/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)

$171K$158K$145K$132K$119K$106KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36474 Compare?

Metric 36474 Red Level Alabama
Home Value $164,406 $164,406 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% 5.6%
Avg Rent $702 $702 -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 36474? 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 36474 (Red Level, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $164,406
Monthly Rent $702
Price-to-Rent 19.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 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
25.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36474

Population: 2,523

💰 Median Household Income
$39,348
This area
$39,348
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.3%
This area
25.3%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.8%
Black/African American 12.9%
Other/Mixed 2.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
29.2%
This area
29.2%
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 36474

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$13,111 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Red Level School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
521 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,112 Per Student
C+ Average

Andalusia Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
1,125 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,110 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

1 Nearby
C+
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
2,130 students · 12.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Level in AL worth investing in?

Our data puts Red Level, AL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $164K and rents around $702/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What do rentals go for in Red Level, AL?

Rental rates in Red Level, AL average $702/mo. Tenant demand and $164K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What strategy should investors use in Red Level, AL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Red Level, AL best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $164K price point.

Is Red Level, AL suited for a house hack?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Red Level, AL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is the tenant base reliable in Red Level, AL?

Tenant demand in Red Level, AL is solid. The local workforce $702/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 36474 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36474 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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