Real Estate Investing in Palmer, Alaska (99645)

Matanuska Susitna Borough • Population: 31,494 • Data updated: June 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 99645 (Palmer, AK)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Palmer, AK (99645)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $439,967
Avg Monthly Rent $2,103
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $93,242
% Renters 22.2%

Market Analysis: 99645 Palmer

The 99645 ZIP covers a section of Palmer that demands careful diligence. Prices near $440K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 99645 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 99645 and stronger Palmer ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 99645 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 99645, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Palmer:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,103/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Anchorage, AK Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
16 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.1%
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 June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Anchorage, AK metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 99645

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$126,203/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $318,096 $1,450 3.3% +6.1% $159,048
3BR $401,650 $2,020 3.6% +6.0% $133,883
4BR $504,814 $2,430 3.5% +6.0% $126,203

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$458K$406K$354K$302K$250K$198KApr 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,141$2,048$1,955$1,862$1,769$1,676Jan 2025Sep 2025May 2026

📊 How Does 99645 Compare?

Metric 99645 Palmer Anchorage, AK Alaska
Home Value $439,967 $439,967 N/A $378,640
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 3.6%
Avg Rent $2,103 $2,103 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 99645? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 99645 (Palmer, AK). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 99645 (Palmer, AK)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Anchorage, AK metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
16 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $439,967
Monthly Rent $2,103
Price-to-Rent 17.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 99645

Population: 31,494

💰 Median Household Income
$93,242
This area
$93,242
State
$64,271
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
30.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-13.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.0%
This area
30.0%
State
-3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.8 years
This area
35.8 years
State
2.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
37.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.4%
Other/Mixed 18.9%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
Black/African American 1.4%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
25.9%
This area
25.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 99645

B+ Avg School Grade
14 Schools
22.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,753 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Pioneer Peak Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Swanson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Butte Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
272 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Cottonwood Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Palmer High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
649 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Sherrod Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
A Very Good

Academy Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Palmer Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
567 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Valley Pathways

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Birchtree Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B Good

Colony High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,092 Students
👨‍🏫
20.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B Good

Colony Middle School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
757 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
B Good

Mat-Su Secondary School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
14 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 Per Student
C+ Average

Mat-Su Middle College School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
102.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,753 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
B
Alaska Bible College
65 students · 6.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Palmer, AK?

Homes in Palmer, AK typically sell near $440K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

Is Palmer, AK landlord-friendly?

AK law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Palmer inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What approach is best for Palmer, AK real estate?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Palmer, AK. The numbers - $440K homes against $2,103/mo rents - support that play.

Is house hacking profitable in Palmer, AK?

House hacking works a challenging in Palmer, AK. Rents of $2,103/mo against $440K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How high is vacancy risk in Palmer, AK?

Vacancy risk in Palmer, AK is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

See what 99645 really looks like for investors

You're reading the free snapshot. Unlock appreciation trends, cap rates, vacancy signals, Section 8 data, and full demographics for 99645.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 99645 (Palmer)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 99645 (Palmer, AK).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.