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Rental Property Investment Guide: Panama City, FL

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Panama City, FL

Cap Rate
3.93%
Median Price
$340K
Rent/Mo
$1,670
1% Rule
0.49%
Fails

Market Snapshot

Panama City sits in the South with a population of 50,000 growing rapidly at 1.9% annually. The median home costs $340,000 while rents average $1,670/mo, producing an estimated cap rate of 3.93%. Cash flow investing here requires creative strategies like BRRRR or value-add approaches.

Who Should Invest Here

Panama City is primarily an appreciation play. With home values growing 3.7% annually, equity gains may outpace cash flow. Best suited for investors with longer time horizons who can afford to break even or accept minimal cash flow while building equity. Consider house hacking or value-add strategies to improve returns.

Deal Criteria for Panama City

Target properties priced 15-25% below the $340,000 median — around $272,000 or less. At this price point with $1,670/mo rents, your cap rate improves to roughly 5.3%. Factor in 0.86% property taxes ($2,924/yr), budget 5% of gross rent for maintenance, and underwrite to a 5.2% vacancy rate. On a 20% down conventional loan at 7%, monthly PITI will run approximately $2,152.

Risks and Considerations

Every deal should be evaluated individually using our calculator tools. Median data provides a starting point; actual returns depend on the specific property, financing, and your management approach.

Next Steps

Run the numbers on a specific Panama City property using our cap rate calculator (pre-filled with Panama City data). Compare Panama City against similar markets in the South region. If you're considering a value-add approach, try our BRRRR calculator to model a rehab scenario.

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How Panama City Compares

Panama City vs Florida state average and national average across key investment metrics. Panama City beats the national average but trails the Florida average on cap rate.

Metric
Panama City
Florida Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
3.93%
4.63%
3.81%
Median Price
$340K
$364K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,670
$1,950
$1,524
Property Tax
0.86%
0.86%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.2%
5.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
1.9%/yr
1.9%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby South Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Panama City, FL
3.9%
$340K
$1,670
0.86%
Cape Coral, FL
4.5%
$340K
$1,840
0.87%
Palm Bay, FL
4.6%
$340K
$1,890
0.88%
Auburn, AL
4.2%
$340K
$1,640
0.42%
Harrisonburg, VA
4.0%
$340K
$1,700
0.86%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panama City, FL a good place to invest in rental property?
Panama City has an estimated cap rate of 3.93%, which is above the national average of 3.81%. With median home prices at $340K and rents of $1,670/mo, Panama City presents moderate opportunities — deals need careful sourcing to cash flow. Population growth of 1.9% and 5.2% vacancy rate indicate healthy tenant demand.
What is the average cap rate in Panama City?
The estimated cap rate for Panama City is 3.93%, based on median home prices of $340K, median rents of $1,670/mo, a 0.86% property tax rate, and 5.2% vacancy. This compares to a 4.63% average across Florida and 3.81% nationally. Cap rates for individual properties will vary based on purchase price, actual rents, and property condition.
How much does a rental property cost in Panama City?
The median home price in Panama City is $340,000, which is 2% above the national average of $333,419. A 20% down payment would be approximately $68,000. Investment properties in Panama City range significantly — targeting properties 15-25% below median can improve your cap rate substantially.
What are Panama City property taxes for investors?
Panama City's effective property tax rate is 0.86%, which is above the Florida average of 0.86% and below the national average of 1.08%. On a $340K property, annual taxes are approximately $2,924 ($244/mo). Property taxes are moderate and manageable.
Full Panama City Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Panama City & Related Markets

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