Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Indiana (47901)

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

Tippecanoe County • Population: 4,342 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 47901 (Lafayette, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 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 poverty: 23.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Lafayette, IN (47901)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $251,621
Avg Monthly Rent $1,180
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,527
% Renters 92.4%

Market Analysis: 47901 Lafayette

The 47901 ZIP in Lafayette, IN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $252K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 47901 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $252K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Meanwhile, 47901 offers a low basis, the region around Lafayette has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 47901 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 47901 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $252K 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 Lafayette:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,180/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
46 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 47901

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$83,070/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $283,538 $1,130 2.9% +6.0% $141,769
3BR $249,211 $1,350 3.9% +6.0% $83,070

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$283K$248K$213K$179K$144K$110KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,068$2,641$2,213$1,786$1,359$931Nov 2022Sep 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 47901 Compare?

Metric 47901 Lafayette Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Indiana
Home Value $251,621 $255,056 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 6.1% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,180 $1,303 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 47901? Click to expand

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

92% 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 47901 (Lafayette, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Tippecanoe County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

B.W. Parks offers rental properties in Lafayette, Indiana. summary from their website

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June Palms Property Management provides property management services in Lafayette, Indiana. summary from their website

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Sorola Properties is a property management company located in Lafayette, IN. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $251,621
Monthly Rent $1,180
Price-to-Rent 17.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -59.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -23.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 47901

Population: 4,342

💰 Median Household Income
$40,527
This area
$40,527
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
92.4%
This area
92.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.5%
This area
55.5%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.4 years
This area
28.4 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.4%
Black/African American 14.4%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Asian 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
👶 Under 18
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
4.3%
This area
4.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
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 47901

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Oakland Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 611 South 21st Street, Lafayette
👥
193 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Murdock Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 2100 Cason St, Lafayette
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Vinton Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 3101 Elmwood Ave, Lafayette
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lafayette Sunnyside Intermediate

📚 05 – 06 School
📍 530 N 26th St, Lafayette
👥
1,029 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
C+ Average

Paramount School of Excellence Lafayette

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 1904 Elmwood Ave, Lafayette
👥
173 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
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

6 Nearby 47,013 Off-Campus Students
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Lafayette
87 students · 0.2 mi
D
Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing
131 students · 0.8 mi
B+
Purdue University-Main Campus
52,905 students · 1.5 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Lafayette
77 students · 3.1 mi
C
Purdue University Global
44,421 students · 3.4 mi
C
Christina and Company Education Center
32 students · 3.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 47,013 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Lafayette, IN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Lafayette, IN best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $252K price point.

How strict are landlord regulations in Lafayette, IN?

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

How does Lafayette, IN rate as a rental market?

Lafayette, IN shows an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $252K and average rents around $1,180/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Lafayette, IN?

Lafayette, IN is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $252K price point reasonable to enter.

What are vacancy rates like in Lafayette, IN?

Rental vacancy in Lafayette, IN is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 47901 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 47901 ranks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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