Real Estate Investing in Mobile, Alabama (36605)

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

Mobile County • Population: 25,628 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36605 (Mobile, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (79/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 25.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Mobile, AL (36605)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $93,852
Avg Monthly Rent $1,208
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $40,802
% Renters 50.2%

Market Analysis: 36605 Mobile

Investors scanning Mobile, AL for forced-equity plays often land on the 36605 ZIP. A a credible choice for entry near $94K pairs with rents of $1,208/mo to widen the renovation window.

The a credible choice for angle here is forced equity, not market equity. ZIP 36605 rewards investors who can execute on scope, timeline, and tenant turnover.

Across AL, value-add opportunity tends to concentrate where housing stock is older and entry prices are below the state median. ZIP 36605 shows both traits clearly.

Put differently, incomes in 36605 sit below the county median, the tenant pool is deep and the demand for upgraded rental stock consistently outruns supply.

The strategy in 36605 is forced equity, not market equity. In practical terms, entry prices are accommodating at $94K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Mobile:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,208/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Mobile, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.4%
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 Mobile, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 36605

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
11.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$31,464/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $68,060 $1,100 11.6% +6.0% $34,030
3BR $97,221 $1,440 10.7% +5.9% $32,407
4BR $125,855 $1,470 8.4% +5.2% $31,464

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$97K$87K$77K$67K$57K$46KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,275$1,232$1,188$1,144$1,101$1,057Dec 2023Apr 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36605 Compare?

Metric 36605 Mobile Mobile, AL Alabama
Home Value $93,852 $85,187 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 3.2% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,208 $1,283 N/A -
Cap Rate 10.0% 6.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36605? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,208/mo on homes averaging $93,852 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

50% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 36605 (Mobile, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
10.0%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Mobile, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
1/2
60 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $93,852
Monthly Rent $1,208
Price-to-Rent 6.5:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 15.5%
Cap Rate 10.0%
5-Year IRR 14.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 10.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (10.0%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
19.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36605

Population: 25,628

💰 Median Household Income
$40,802
This area
$40,802
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.2%
This area
50.2%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.3 years
This area
38.3 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 69.7%
White 24.7%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.1%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.3%
This area
25.3%
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 36605

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$13,185 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Ben C Rain High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
587 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

Erwin Craighead Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

George Hall Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

Lillie B Williamson High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
996 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

Maryvale Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
451 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

Morningside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
487 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
B Good

Pillans Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
485 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
C+ Average

Dr Robert W Gilliard Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
803 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
C+ Average

Hollingers Island Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,185 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Evening Educational Options

📚 10 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
38 Students
💰
$13,185 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 1,763 Off-Campus Students
D
Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound
51 students · 3.3 mi
C
Blue Cliff Career College
41 students · 4.6 mi
D
Remington College-Mobile Campus
244 students · 5.5 mi
C
Bishop State Community College
3,568 students · 6.4 mi
C
Spring Hill College
977 students · 6.7 mi
B
University of South Alabama
13,768 students · 8.1 mi
D
Fortis College
252 students · 8.7 mi
D
United States Sports Academy
272 students · 10.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,763 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can investors hit the 1% rule in Mobile, AL?

The median property in Mobile, AL ($94K at $1,208/mo rent) a 1.29% rent-to-price figure. Pure 1% deals require disciplined offer pricing.

Is Mobile, AL good for house hacking?

Mobile, AL offers an attractive house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,208/mo rent level.

What type of investing works in Mobile, AL?

Most investors in Mobile, AL run a value-add and BRRRR deals strategy. It aligns with the 5.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Can BRRRR investors find deals in Mobile, AL?

BRRRR in Mobile, AL is a strong. The interplay of $94K values and $1,208/mo rents creates reasonable refinance conditions.

What is the average home sale price in Mobile, AL?

Mobile, AL median home values land near $94K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,208/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 36605 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36605 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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How 36605 ranks in Mobile, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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