Real Estate Investing in Saint Cloud, Wisconsin (53079)

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

Fond du Lac County • Population: 1,420 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53079 (Saint Cloud, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Saint Cloud, WI (53079)?

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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 $352,313
Avg Monthly Rent $1,098
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,250
% Renters 20.7%

Market Analysis: 53079 Saint Cloud

Investors eyeing 53079 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $352K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $352K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 53079 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within WI, ZIP 53079 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Fond du Lac County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The 53079 ZIP's population of 1,420 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 53079 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.

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 Saint Cloud:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,098/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
Fond du Lac, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Fond du Lac, WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$367K$324K$280K$237K$193K$150KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53079 Compare?

Metric 53079 Saint Cloud Fond du Lac, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $352,313 $352,313 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 6.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,098 $1,098 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53079? 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 53079 (Saint Cloud, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fond du Lac, WI metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $352,313
Monthly Rent $1,098
Price-to-Rent 26.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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.

Vacancy
11.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53079

Population: 1,420

💰 Median Household Income
$76,250
This area
$76,250
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.6 years
This area
51.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.7%
Other/Mixed 1.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 1,539 Off-Campus Students
C+
Moraine Park Technical College
3,532 students · 11.6 mi
C
Marian University
1,319 students · 11.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,539 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in Saint Cloud, WI?

Vacancy in Saint Cloud, WI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,098/mo.

Are renters plentiful in Saint Cloud, WI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Saint Cloud, WI. The rental market absorbs $1,098/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is Saint Cloud, WI good for landlords?

Saint Cloud, WI operates under WI law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Saint Cloud, WI?

Rents in Saint Cloud, WI run near $1,098/mo. Compared with median home prices of $352K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How much does a house cost in Saint Cloud, WI?

Median home price in Saint Cloud, WI is near $352K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

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How 53079 ranks in Fond du Lac, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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