Real Estate Investing in Ostrander, Minnesota (55961)

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

Mower County • Population: 517 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55961 (Ostrander, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Ostrander, MN (55961)?

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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 $214,800
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,625
% Renters 19.2%

Market Analysis: 55961 Ostrander

Investors eyeing 55961 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $215K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $215K asset, 55961 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Stepping back, 55961 offers a low basis, the region around Ostrander has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A durable renter share of 19% in 55961 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. robust returns are possible in 55961, 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 Ostrander:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,071/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$233K$204K$174K$145K$115K$86KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55961 Compare?

Metric 55961 Ostrander Austin, MN Minnesota
Home Value $214,800 $214,800 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,071 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55961? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55961 (Ostrander, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
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 $214,800
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 16.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55961

Population: 517

💰 Median Household Income
$80,625
This area
$80,625
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.4%
This area
18.4%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.7%
Other/Mixed 3.0%
Black/African American 1.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ostrander, MN a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Ostrander, MN rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $215K and rents near $1,071/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the typical rental rate in Ostrander, MN?

Expect rents around $1,071/mo per month in Ostrander, MN. With home values at $215K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Ostrander, MN?

Expect elevated vacancy in Ostrander, MN. Rents at $1,071/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is housing expensive in Ostrander, MN?

Typical homes in Ostrander, MN go for around $215K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Which real estate strategy fits Ostrander, MN?

Ostrander, MN investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($215K prices, $1,071/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 55961 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 55961 ranks in Austin, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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