Limestone County, AL

Limestone County presents an income-versus-resale tension. At Zillow’s 2026-06 county observation, median home value was $324,263 and median asking market rent was $1,540 monthly, producing the supplied 5.70% gross yield before costs. Asking rent increased 2.63% year over year while Zillow’s value measure increased 0.91%. Buyers able to verify leases and operating costs should investigate; those depending on near-term resale should be cautious. County medians are not an asset valuation or submarket result.

Carrying costs could narrow headline yield: the effective property-tax rate is 0.32% and median annual tax is $900, but neither substitutes for a parcel bill or operating statement. The $1,310 HUD two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is a payment standard, not asking-rent evidence, and must not be used to calculate yield. FHFA’s 2025 repeat-transaction HPI increased 2.58%; it supports a positive price direction but is not a dollar home value. Its vintage and method differ from Zillow’s county observation, so the changes cannot be blended.

Demand indicators require a split reading. QCEW’s 2025 annual measure covers jobs at county workplaces rather than resident employment; Manufacturing is the largest disclosed private supersector, not the whole economy. In Realtor.com’s 2026-06 MLS listing market, active listings were up 12.76% year over year, median marketing time was 66 days, 16.98% of listings had reductions, and the pending ratio was 44.95%. This records visible supply and seller concessions, not closed-sale prices or demand by itself. Tax-return migration was net positive, yet inbound movers’ average AGI was $1,611 below outbound movers’. Investors represented 6.31% of purchase mortgages, participation that should be assessed alongside owner-buyer activity rather than treated as price-setting proof.

Inland flood is the dominant hazard, and the modeled annual climate-loss ratio is 0.16% of building value. That county model is a diligence flag, not a building-specific expected loss. The record does not publish flood-zone, elevation, insurance quotes or claims history, rent comps, vacancy, operating expenses, condition, or closed-sale comparables. Their absence prevents underwriting net yield, flood carrying cost, and an exit-value conclusion.