Real Estate Investing in Columbia City, Indiana (46725)

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

Whitley County • Population: 22,941 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46725 (Columbia City, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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: 8.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Columbia City, IN (46725)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $287,704
Avg Monthly Rent $1,025
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,891
% Renters 19.4%

Market Analysis: 46725 Columbia City

Looking more closely, ZIP 46725 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $288K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 46725 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $288K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 46725 sits on the difficult end of the IN spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Looking more closely, 22,941 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 46725 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Columbia City:

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 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,025/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
13.6%
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 Fort Wayne, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 46725

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$87,535/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $154,630 $880 4.1% +7.8% $154,630
2BR $203,790 $1,070 3.8% +8.8% $101,895
3BR $279,757 $1,330 3.4% +8.1% $93,252
4BR $350,141 $1,460 3.0% +7.8% $87,535
5BR $451,152 +8.2% $90,230

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$301K$263K$226K$188K$151K$113KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 46725 Compare?

Metric 46725 Columbia City Fort Wayne, IN Indiana
Home Value $287,704 $287,704 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,025 $1,025 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46725? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 46725 (Columbia City, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fort Wayne, IN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
45%
Days Pending
0/2
28 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $287,704
Monthly Rent $1,025
Price-to-Rent 23.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
8.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46725

Population: 22,941

💰 Median Household Income
$73,891
This area
$73,891
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.3%
This area
25.3%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.3 years
This area
42.3 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.6%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
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 46725

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,580 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Coesse School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 Per Student
B Good

Little Turtle Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
597 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 Per Student
B Good

Northern Heights Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
519 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 Per Student
B Good

Indian Springs Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
809 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 Per Student
B Good

Mary Raber Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 Per Student
B Good

Columbia City High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,174 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,580 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

1 Nearby
C+
Artisan Academy of Cosmetology
42 students · 14.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Columbia City, IN?

Vacancy risk in Columbia City, IN is elevated. That supports stable cash flow for typical rental holds.

What approach is best for Columbia City, IN real estate?

Most investors in Columbia City, IN run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How much do tenants pay in Columbia City, IN?

Average rent in Columbia City, IN is approximately $1,025/mo per month. Against $288K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Does Columbia City, IN favor landlords or tenants?

IN law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Columbia City inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Is Columbia City, IN a smart market for rental property?

Our data puts Columbia City, IN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $288K and rents around $1,025/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 46725 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46725 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 46725 ranks in Fort Wayne, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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