Real Estate Investing in Grand Meadow, Minnesota (55936)

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

Mower County • Population: 1,763 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55936 (Grand Meadow, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.7 — 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 Grand Meadow, MN (55936)?

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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 $269,425
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,200
% Renters 16.3%

Market Analysis: 55936 Grand Meadow

ZIP 55936 inside Mower County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $269K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 55936 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 55936 among MN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A substantial renter share of 16% in 55936 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 55936, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Grand Meadow:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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
Austin, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.9%
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 Austin, MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 55936

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$80,417/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $199,722 $970 3.5% +7.7% $99,861
3BR $241,252 $1,250 3.7% +8.0% $80,417
4BR $360,232 $1,350 2.7% +9.2% $90,058

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$284K$245K$205K$166K$127K$87KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55936 Compare?

Metric 55936 Grand Meadow Austin, MN Minnesota
Home Value $269,425 $269,425 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55936? 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 55936 (Grand Meadow, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Austin, MN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
47%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $269,425
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 25.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
8.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55936

Population: 1,763

💰 Median Household Income
$71,200
This area
$71,200
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.0%
This area
24.0%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.7 years
This area
39.7 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.7%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Asian 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 55936

C+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,891 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

GRAND MEADOW ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
176 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,891 Per Student
B+ Above Average

GRAND MEADOW SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
135 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,891 Per Student
B Good

GRAND MEADOW MIDDLE

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
117 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,891 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Enrich GM

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
11 Students
D Needs Improvement

Next Step East (Grand Meadow)

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
4 Students
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Grand Meadow, MN?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Grand Meadow, MN ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $269K and rents of $873/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Grand Meadow, MN a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Grand Meadow, MN deal with a balanced legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Grand Meadow, MN?

Expect elevated vacancy in Grand Meadow, MN. Rents at $873/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How viable is house hacking in Grand Meadow, MN?

Grand Meadow, MN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $873/mo rent level.

How strong are rents in Grand Meadow, MN?

Rent in Grand Meadow, MN is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $269K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 55936 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 55936 ranks in Austin, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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