Investment Guide
Investing in Auburn
Condos, multi-family, and student rentals — from a team that’s been investing in this market since 2001.
Auburn and Opelika aren't just where we sell real estate — they're where we invest our own money. This guide is our honest take on where the smart investment plays are right now, built on more than two decades of buying and selling in this exact market.
2001
Year We Started Investing Here
2008
Licensed As Realtors
24+ Yrs
Track Record In This Market
Our Investment History
I got my real estate license in 2008, but I started buying and selling real estate here back in 2001, as an investor first. I'm still doing it to this day. We invest in this area not only because we love it, but because the market has proven its track record year after year.
"We invest in this area not only because we love it, but because the market has proven its track record year after year."
— The Hayley Real Estate Team
Auburn University is the engine that makes this market work differently than most college towns: a steady, growing student population, a strong game-day short-term rental economy every fall, and a genuinely diversifying local job base on top of it. That combination is why condos and small multi-family properties near campus have held their value and their occupancy for us for over two decades.
Condos & Townhomes We Believe In
These are complexes we've personally bought, sold, or managed in, or currently recommend to our investor clients. All are within a couple of miles of Auburn University, and most allow short-term/game-day rentals — always confirm current HOA rules before you buy.
Near Downtown · 4BR Units
Eagles Landing Condominiums
Built in the mid-2000s and about half a mile from downtown Auburn. Many units are spacious 4 bedroom/4 bathroom layouts with a walk-in closet in every room — ideal for renting by the bed to groups of students. Community pool and basketball court included.
Gated · Lakefront
Longleaf Villas Condominiums
A gated, lakefront community close to campus with 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units, in-unit laundry, and screened-in porches. Association dues are low relative to the rest of the market, which helps the numbers pencil out on a rental.
Short-Term Rental Friendly
Donahue Crossing
A 190-unit community of 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes about two miles from campus. This is one of the few complexes where short-term rentals are explicitly allowed, so owners can run it as a game-day and Airbnb property when it's not leased traditionally. Two pools on site, and HOA dues are some of the lowest we track.
Gated · 3BR Units
Longleaf Crossing
A gated condo community with 3 bedroom/2 bathroom units, a community pool and clubhouse, and HOA dues that cover lawn maintenance — one less thing for an out-of-town owner to manage.
Twin-Homes · Game Day
Ross Park & Northern Village at Ross Park
Cottage-style twin-homes and townhomes just north of downtown — about a mile and a half from Toomer's Corner and roughly a mile from Jordan-Hare Stadium. Short-term rentals are allowed in both HOAs, making this one of our favorite recommendations for buyers specifically looking for a game-day property. Low-maintenance exteriors keep upkeep manageable for out-of-town owners.
Multi-Family: The Chappell Area
Beyond condos, we've had strong results with small multi-family properties — duplexes and fourplexes — in and around the Chappell area near downtown Auburn. These properties let you diversify rental income across multiple units on a single deed, which can smooth out vacancy risk compared to owning a single condo.
And this list isn't exhaustive — there are plenty more condo, townhome, and small multi-family opportunities scattered around downtown Auburn and downtown Opelika that don't make headlines but perform quietly well year after year. If you're serious about investing here, the specific unit and HOA matter as much as the neighborhood name.
Want current pricing or availability in any of these complexes? Check our market data & rate update, or reach out directly and we'll walk you through what's available right now.