Real Estate Investing in Fairbanks, Alaska (99709)

Fairbanks North Star Borough • Population: 29,734 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 99709 (Fairbanks, AK)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Fairbanks, AK (99709)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $319,687
Avg Monthly Rent $1,781
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,467
% Renters 37.2%

Market Analysis: 99709 Fairbanks

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Fairbanks's 99709 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $320K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 99709 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $320K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within AK, ZIP 99709 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Fairbanks North Star Borough submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

On the rental side, 29,734 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Fairbanks's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 99709. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Fairbanks:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,781/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
Fairbanks, AK Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
18 days
Average time to sell
Fast
12.8%
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 Fairbanks, AK metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 99709

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+2.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$107,281/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $137,640 $1,150 6.0% -0.8% $137,640
2BR $234,863 $1,510 4.6% +1.7% $117,431
3BR $347,423 $2,110 4.4% +2.0% $115,808
4BR $429,123 $2,530 4.2% +2.6% $107,281

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$329K$303K$277K$251K$225K$200KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,797$1,752$1,707$1,662$1,617$1,572Feb 2025Oct 2025May 2026

📊 How Does 99709 Compare?

Metric 99709 Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK Alaska
Home Value $319,687 $129,925 N/A $378,640
5-Year CAGR 2.3% 2.5% N/A 3.6%
Avg Rent $1,781 $1,670 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

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

💡 Why Invest in 99709? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 99709 (Fairbanks, AK). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.3%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fairbanks, AK metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $319,687
Monthly Rent $1,781
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 99709

Population: 29,734

💰 Median Household Income
$80,467
This area
$80,467
State
$64,271
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.2%
This area
37.2%
State
30.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-13.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.7%
This area
43.7%
State
-3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.4 years
This area
36.4 years
State
2.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
37.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.0%
Other/Mixed 23.4%
Hispanic/Latino 7.3%
Black/African American 4.3%
Asian 3.2%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.6%
This area
15.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
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 99709

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
31.3:1 Avg Class Size
$18,321 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hutchison High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
A Very Good

Pearl Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
A Very Good

University Park Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
A Very Good

Woodriver Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Effie Kokrine Charter School

📚 07 – 12 High School Charter
👥
143 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
818 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
B Good

Watershed Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
200 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,103 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Raven School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
3,273 Students
👨‍🏫
127.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,847 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 776 Off-Campus Students
D
University of Alaska System of Higher Education
0 students · 11.1 mi
C+
University of Alaska Fairbanks
6,640 students · 11.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 776 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Fairbanks, AK?

Expect rents around $1,781/mo per month in Fairbanks, AK. With home values at $320K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Fairbanks, AK?

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

How strong is Fairbanks, AK for real estate investors?

Fairbanks, AK scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $320K and rents near $1,781/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is the tenant base reliable in Fairbanks, AK?

The renter base in Fairbanks, AK is reasonable for the $1,781/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

What is the best play in Fairbanks, AK?

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

See what 99709 really looks like for investors

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