Real Estate Investing in Mountain Lake, Minnesota (56159)

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

Cottonwood County • Population: 2,520 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56159 (Mountain Lake, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

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 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Mountain Lake, MN (56159)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $157,065
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,328
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 56159 Mountain Lake

The 56159 ZIP in Mountain Lake, MN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $157K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $157K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 56159 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Nearby ZIPs in Mountain Lake have seen price recovery that 56159 has not matched. Cottonwood County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 56159 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Mountain Lake's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 56159. 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 Mountain Lake:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$170K$146K$122K$99K$75K$52KJun 2012Jul 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56159 Compare?

Metric 56159 Mountain Lake Minnesota
Home Value $157,065 $157,065 $340,597
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% 4.9%
Avg Rent $882 $882 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 56159? 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 56159 (Mountain Lake, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $157,065
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
9.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56159

Population: 2,520

💰 Median Household Income
$61,328
This area
$61,328
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.6 years
This area
38.6 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.3%
Asian 11.1%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Hispanic/Latino 9.9%
👶 Under 18
29.4%
This area
29.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 56159

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$20,173 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

MOUNTAIN LAKE ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
269 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,173 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MOUNTAIN LAKE SECONDARY

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,173 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Mountain Lake, MN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Mountain Lake, MN best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $157K price point.

What do landlords charge for rent in Mountain Lake, MN?

The typical rental in Mountain Lake, MN commands about $882/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $157K purchase basis.

How expensive is real estate in Mountain Lake, MN?

In Mountain Lake, MN the median home value sits at $157K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How deep is the rental pool in Mountain Lake, MN?

Working renters make up the core of the Mountain Lake, MN tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Mountain Lake, MN?

Mountain Lake, MN vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 56159 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 56159 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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