Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Indiana (47905)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 47905 (Lafayette, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
No major risk flags on the data we track.
What’s happening in Lafayette, IN (47905)?
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Market Analysis: 47905 Lafayette
ZIP 47905 in Lafayette, IN carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $298K and rents of $1,300/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.
The investment case in 47905 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $298K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.
Within IN, ZIP 47905 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Tippecanoe County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.
The demographic picture in 47905 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lafayette averages, and tenant stability requires active management.
Strategically, 47905 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lafayette:
Property Strategy for 47905
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $192,454 | $1,270 | 4.8% | +10.2% | $96,227 |
| 3BR | $276,262 | $1,520 | 4.0% | +8.6% | $92,087 |
| 4BR | $370,135 | $2,040 | 4.0% | +7.4% | $92,534 |
| 5BR | $553,402 | — | — | +7.5% | $110,680 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 47905 Compare?
| Metric | 47905 | Lafayette | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $298,176 | $255,056 | N/A | $248,442 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 6.4% | 6.1% | N/A | 7.7% |
| Avg Rent | $1,300 | $1,303 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 3.4% | 4.0% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 47905 (Lafayette, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $298,176 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,300 |
| Price-to-Rent | 19.1:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 5.2% |
| Cap Rate | 3.4% |
| 5-Year IRR | 9.8% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +5.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +5.3% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +6.4% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +7.4% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +12.7% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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.
Demographics in 47905
Population: 42,109
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 47905
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 47,013 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tight is the rental market in Lafayette, IN?
Lafayette, IN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IN rental market.
Are renters plentiful in Lafayette, IN?
Expect a solid tenant pool in Lafayette, IN. The rental market absorbs $1,300/mo rents without meaningful friction.
What kind of market is Lafayette, IN for investors?
Lafayette, IN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $298K and rents near $1,300/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.
How landlord-friendly is Lafayette, IN?
IN ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Lafayette generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
Is Lafayette, IN suited for a house hack?
House hacking works a challenging in Lafayette, IN. Rents of $1,300/mo against $298K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.
You know 47905 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 47905 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.
How 47905 ranks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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