Real Estate Investing in Hayward, Minnesota (56043)

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

Freeborn County • Population: 429 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56043 (Hayward, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• 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 Hayward, MN (56043)?

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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 $218,316
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,750
% Renters 13.9%

Market Analysis: 56043 Hayward

On the rental side, ZIP 56043 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $218K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $882/mo on a $218K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 56043 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 56043 and stronger Hayward ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A substantial renter share of 14% in 56043 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 56043 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Hayward:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/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
Albert Lea, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.7%
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 Albert Lea, MN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$231K$201K$172K$142K$113K$83KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56043 Compare?

Metric 56043 Hayward Albert Lea, MN Minnesota
Home Value $218,316 $218,316 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56043? 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 56043 (Hayward, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Albert Lea, MN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
62%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $218,316
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
9.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56043

Population: 429

💰 Median Household Income
$81,750
This area
$81,750
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.1%
This area
13.1%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.6 years
This area
51.6 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.8%
Other/Mixed 11.6%
Asian 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
👶 Under 18
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.5%
This area
26.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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

1 Nearby 1,454 Off-Campus Students
C
Riverland Community College
3,591 students · 11.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,454 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Hayward, MN?

Median home price in Hayward, MN is near $218K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Hayward in MN worth investing in?

Hayward, MN rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $218K and rents near $882/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is the tenant base reliable in Hayward, MN?

Hayward, MN offers a reliable renter base at the $882/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Hayward, MN?

Landlord-friendliness in Hayward, MN is balanced. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Hayward, MN good for house hacking?

Hayward, MN is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $218K price point reasonable to enter.

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How 56043 ranks in Albert Lea, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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