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Market MapLakeland, FL
Metropolitan Area

Lakeland, FL

Florida01 counties
55
/100
Hold
#632 of 894 metros
Top 71% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$298,028
Median Home Price
22% above national median
$1,841/mo
Median Rent
33% above national median
7.41%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 20% nationally
-$365
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$298,028
Down Payment (20%)$59,606
Loan Amount$238,422
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,841
Monthly P&I-$1,562
Est. Expenses (35%)-$644
Net Cash Flow-$365/mo
4.8%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-6.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return
7.41%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.8% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
55/100
55
Cash Flow(30%)
74/100

Based on 7.41% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
27/100

Based on -5.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.

Affordability(20%)
66/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Above-average rent-to-price ratio (7.41%)
  • +Low unemployment (0.0%)

Challenges

  • -Declining home values (-5.0% YoY)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$365/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 4.8% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Lakeland, FL

Best Overall
Polk
FL - Score: 53
Verdict
PolkFL
736,22953$295,266$1,8267.42%HoldView

Click any county to see detailed investment analysis

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro AreaVerdict
Utica, NY
Utica, NY
75$218,900$1,4137.75%Strong BuyView
Springfield, IL
Springfield, IL
75$187,233$1,1207.18%Strong BuyView
Columbus, MS
Columbus, MS
75$178,027$1,3539.12%Strong BuyView
Youngstown, OH
Youngstown, OH
75$165,204$1,0077.31%Strong BuyView
Tupelo, MS
Tupelo, MS
75$178,650$1,1837.94%Strong BuyView
Current
Lakeland, FL
55$298,028$1,8417.41%Hold

The Bottom Line

HoldLakeland, FL is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals in specific counties.

The Lakeland, FL metro area scores 55/100, ranking #632 of 894 US metros (top 71%). The 7.41% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Among 1 counties, Polk shows the strongest investment potential (score: 53). Current metro-wide averages make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or drilling down to specific counties.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-365/mo
Cap Rate
4.8%
Cash-on-Cash
-7.4%

Ready to Invest in Lakeland, FL?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties, or explore individual counties for more targeted opportunities.

Single Family1-4 unit rentalsHouse HackOwner-occupiedMultifamily5+ unit propertiesBest CountyPolk
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