Real Estate Investing in Ruleville, Mississippi (38736)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Sunflower County • Population: 535 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38736 (Ruleville, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 26.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 9.2% in the last year.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Ruleville, MS (38736)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $118,432
Avg Monthly Rent $774
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,875
% Renters 6.7%

Market Analysis: 38736 Ruleville

The 38736 ZIP in Ruleville, MS is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $118K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $118K asset, 38736 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within MS, ZIP 38736 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Sunflower County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 38736 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 38736 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $118K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

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

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 48/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-9.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $774/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Indianola, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
2.6%
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 August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Indianola, MS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$151K$142K$133K$123K$114K$105KJan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38736 Compare?

Metric 38736 Ruleville Indianola, MS Mississippi
Home Value $118,432 $104,690 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $774 $765 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.8% - -
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 38736 (Ruleville, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Indianola, MS 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
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $118,432
Monthly Rent $774
Price-to-Rent 12.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.8%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -9.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). 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
26.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38736

Population: 535

💰 Median Household Income
$40,875
This area
$40,875
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.6 years
This area
30.6 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 56.3%
White 43.7%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 685 Off-Campus Students
F
Goshen School of Cosmetology
27 students · 12.5 mi
C+
Delta State University
2,716 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Mississippi Delta Community College
2,037 students · 13.9 mi
C+
Mississippi Valley State University
2,196 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 685 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do landlords charge for rent in Ruleville, MS?

Average rent in Ruleville, MS is approximately $774/mo per month. Against $118K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Are homes affordable in Ruleville, MS?

In Ruleville, MS the median home value sits at $118K. Against the broader MS market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How does Ruleville, MS rate as a rental market?

Ruleville, MS records an investability rating of 2.0/5, with median home values near $118K and average rents around $774/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Ruleville, MS?

Vacancy risk in Ruleville, MS is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Ruleville, MS?

Ruleville, MS is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $118K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 38736 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38736 ranks in Indianola, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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