Real Estate Investing in Mishawaka, Indiana (46545)

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

Saint Joseph County • Population: 26,581 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46545 (Mishawaka, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Mishawaka, IN (46545)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $221,527
Avg Monthly Rent $1,267
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,621
% Renters 53.5%

Market Analysis: 46545 Mishawaka

This part of Saint Joseph County is not an easy win. The 46545 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 46545 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within IN, ZIP 46545 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Saint Joseph County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 46545 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 46545 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $222K 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 Mishawaka:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,267/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 46545

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+13.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$71,375/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $105,720 $1,140 7.8% +13.0% $105,720
2BR $156,635 $1,330 6.1% +10.1% $78,317
3BR $214,126 $1,610 5.4% +8.3% $71,375
4BR $301,323 $1,760 4.2% +8.0% $75,331
5BR $363,400 +7.5% $72,680

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$232K$201K$171K$140K$109K$78KAug 2007Feb 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,577$1,479$1,382$1,285$1,187$1,090Apr 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46545 Compare?

Metric 46545 Mishawaka Indiana
Home Value $221,527 $217,148 $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 7.0% 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,267 $1,280 -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 46545? Click to expand

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

54% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 46545 (Mishawaka, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $221,527
Monthly Rent $1,267
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
9.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46545

Population: 26,581

💰 Median Household Income
$52,621
This area
$52,621
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
53.5%
This area
53.5%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.3%
This area
30.3%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.0 years
This area
37.0 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.4%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Black/African American 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Asian 3.2%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
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 46545

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
17.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,220 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Battell Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
B+ Above Average

John J Young Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
738 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
B Good

Liberty Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,504 Per Student
B Good

Walt Disney Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
521 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,050 Per Student
B Good

Elsie Rogers Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,050 Per Student
C+ Average

Schmucker Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
995 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,050 Per Student
C+ Average

Bittersweet Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
22.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,050 Per Student
C Below Average

Penn High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
3,847 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,050 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

8 Nearby 1,262 Off-Campus Students
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Granger
115 students · 2.2 mi
C
Bethel University
1,222 students · 2.7 mi
C+
Indiana University-South Bend
4,446 students · 4.4 mi
A
University of Notre Dame
13,174 students · 4.8 mi
D
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
406 students · 5.5 mi
C
Holy Cross College
547 students · 5.6 mi
C+
Saint Mary's College
1,518 students · 5.8 mi
C
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
147 students · 9.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,262 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Mishawaka, IN?

Expect rents around $1,267/mo per month in Mishawaka, IN. With home values at $222K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What type of investing works in Mishawaka, IN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Mishawaka, IN best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $222K price point.

Is IN a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Mishawaka, IN is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How does Mishawaka, IN stack up for property investment?

Yes - Mishawaka, IN a 3.0/5 investability score. With $222K home prices against $1,267/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How do home values compare in Mishawaka, IN?

In Mishawaka, IN the median home value sits at $222K. Against the broader IN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 46545 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46545 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 46545 ranks in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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