Real Estate Investing in Waverly, Alabama (36879)

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

Lee County • Population: 2,975 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36879 (Waverly, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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

📈 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
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 40.3 — 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 Waverly, AL (36879)?

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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 $461,817
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $108,015
% Renters 14.8%

Market Analysis: 36879 Waverly

The 36879 ZIP in Waverly, AL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $462K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 36879 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 36879 sits on the difficult end of the AL spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 36879 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 36879 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $462K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Waverly:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/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
Auburn-Opelika, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.6%
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 Auburn-Opelika, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 36879

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$110,009/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $367,593 $1,380 2.7% +5.8% $122,531
4BR $483,099 $1,470 2.2% +6.3% $120,775
5BR $550,043 +6.0% $110,009

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$482K$423K$363K$304K$244K$185KSep 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36879 Compare?

Metric 36879 Waverly Auburn-Opelika, AL Alabama
Home Value $461,817 $461,817 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36879? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 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 36879 (Waverly, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $461,817
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 40.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.5%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36879

Population: 2,975

💰 Median Household Income
$108,015
This area
$108,015
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.5%
This area
39.5%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.1 years
This area
46.1 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.5%
Black/African American 25.4%
Other/Mixed 4.0%
Asian 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.7%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 16,474 Off-Campus Students
B
Auburn University
33,015 students · 9.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 16,474 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Waverly, AL?

In Waverly, AL the median home value sits at $462K. Against the broader AL market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Waverly, AL?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Waverly, AL. The rental market absorbs $954/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is the average monthly rent in Waverly, AL?

Rent in Waverly, AL is around $954/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $462K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How strict are landlord regulations in Waverly, AL?

Waverly, AL operates under AL law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the best play in Waverly, AL?

For Waverly, AL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 36879 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 36879 ranks in Auburn-Opelika, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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