Real Estate Investing in Andalusia, Alabama (36421)

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

Covington • Population: 9,861 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36421 (Andalusia, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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: 26.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.1 — 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 Andalusia, AL (36421)?

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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 $217,155
Avg Monthly Rent $720
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,018
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 36421 Andalusia

Investors eyeing 36421 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $217K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $720/mo on a $217K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 36421 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 36421's metrics run below Covington's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 36421 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 36421 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 Andalusia:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $720/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)

$225K$204K$182K$160K$139K$117KNov 2014Sep 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36421 Compare?

Metric 36421 Andalusia Alabama
Home Value $217,155 $184,890 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 3.8% 5.6%
Avg Rent $720 $711 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 36421? 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 36421 (Andalusia, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $217,155
Monthly Rent $720
Price-to-Rent 25.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
26.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36421

Population: 9,861

💰 Median Household Income
$57,018
This area
$57,018
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.7 years
This area
40.7 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.6%
This area
26.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.7%
Black/African American 12.1%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Asian 0.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
👶 Under 18
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.0%
This area
14.0%
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 36421

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,112 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Straughn Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
609 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,112 Per Student
B Good

Straughn High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
416 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,112 Per Student
C+ Average

Straughn Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,112 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 · 3.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Andalusia, AL?

Median home price in Andalusia, AL is near $217K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How landlord-friendly is Andalusia, AL?

Landlord-friendliness in Andalusia, AL is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Andalusia, AL good for house hacking?

House hacking in Andalusia, AL is a challenging. With home values around $217K and rents at $720/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What do landlords charge for rent in Andalusia, AL?

Expect rents around $720/mo per month in Andalusia, AL. With home values at $217K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Andalusia, AL?

The tenant pool in Andalusia, AL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $720/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 36421 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36421 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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