Real Estate Investing in Lake Park, Iowa (51347)

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

Dickinson County • Population: 1,524 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51347 (Lake Park, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 16.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lake Park, IA (51347)?

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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 $254,604
Avg Monthly Rent $1,062
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,150
% Renters 8.6%

Market Analysis: 51347 Lake Park

This part of Dickinson County is not an easy win. The 51347 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,062/mo on a $255K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 51347 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Lake Park have seen price recovery that 51347 has not matched. Dickinson County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

In practical terms, 1,524 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.

New investors are better served looking at Lake Park's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 51347. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Lake Park:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,062/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Spirit Lake, IA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.8%
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 Spirit Lake, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 51347

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$76,936/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $173,524 $1,180 4.9% +8.1% $86,762
3BR $242,161 $1,420 4.2% +7.7% $80,720
4BR $307,742 $1,560 3.6% +8.7% $76,936

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$267K$232K$197K$162K$127K$92KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51347 Compare?

Metric 51347 Lake Park Spirit Lake, IA Iowa
Home Value $254,604 $254,604 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,062 $1,062 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 51347? 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 →
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 51347 (Lake Park, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Spirit Lake, IA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
71%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $254,604
Monthly Rent $1,062
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
16.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51347

Population: 1,524

💰 Median Household Income
$79,150
This area
$79,150
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.2 years
This area
40.2 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.6%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
Asian 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
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 51347

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$12,986 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Harris-Lake Park High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
173 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,986 Per Student
B Good

Harris-Lake Park Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
167 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,986 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+
Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake
16 students · 10.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Park, IA good for landlords?

Lake Park, IA falls under IA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Lake Park, IA?

For house hackers, Lake Park, IA is a challenging. The $1,062/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $255K property.

Are tenants stable in Lake Park, IA?

Lake Park, IA draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $1,062/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What do rentals go for in Lake Park, IA?

Rental rates in Lake Park, IA average $1,062/mo. Tenant demand and $255K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Are homes affordable in Lake Park, IA?

Lake Park, IA median home values land near $255K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,062/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 51347 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51347 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 51347 ranks in Spirit Lake, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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