Real Estate Investing in Stapleton, Alabama (36578)

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

Baldwin County • Population: 1,067 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36578 (Stapleton, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 11.5% 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 Stapleton, AL (36578)?

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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 $306,142
Avg Monthly Rent $1,044
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,857
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 36578 Stapleton

The 36578 ZIP in Stapleton, AL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $306K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 36578 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $306K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 36578 sits on the difficult end of the AL spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 36578 ZIP's population of 1,067 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 36578 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Stapleton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,044/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
92 days
Average time to sell
Slow
6.3%
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 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$322K$275K$228K$181K$134K$86KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36578 Compare?

Metric 36578 Stapleton Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Alabama
Home Value $306,142 $306,142 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,044 $1,044 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36578? 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 36578 (Stapleton, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $306,142
Monthly Rent $1,044
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
11.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36578

Population: 1,067

💰 Median Household Income
$67,857
This area
$67,857
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.4 years
This area
54.4 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.4%
Other/Mixed 14.1%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 36578

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,037 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Stapleton School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
209 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,037 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

2 Nearby 2,465 Off-Campus Students
C
Coastal Alabama Community College
6,791 students · 7.8 mi
D
United States Sports Academy
272 students · 10.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,465 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Stapleton, AL make sense for an investment property?

Stapleton, AL sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $306K and average rents around $1,044/mo. That combination puts it in the healthy tier for investor interest.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Stapleton, AL?

Stapleton, AL median home values land near $306K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,044/mo-per-month rentals.

What do landlords charge for rent in Stapleton, AL?

The typical rental in Stapleton, AL commands about $1,044/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $306K purchase basis.

Is Stapleton, AL a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Stapleton, AL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Stapleton, AL?

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

You know 36578 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 36578 ranks in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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