Real Estate Investing in Deer Creek, Minnesota (56527)

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

Otter Tail County • Population: 875 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56527 (Deer Creek, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Deer Creek, MN (56527)?

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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 $260,336
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,558
% Renters 12.5%

Market Analysis: 56527 Deer Creek

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Deer Creek's 56527 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $260K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 56527 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 56527 sits on the difficult end of the MN spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 56527 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 56527 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Deer Creek:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/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
Fergus Falls, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.2%
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 Fergus Falls, MN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$273K$236K$199K$161K$124K$87KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56527 Compare?

Metric 56527 Deer Creek Fergus Falls, MN Minnesota
Home Value $260,336 $260,336 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $891 $891 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56527? 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 56527 (Deer Creek, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fergus Falls, MN metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $260,336
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
16.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56527

Population: 875

💰 Median Household Income
$58,558
This area
$58,558
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.1 years
This area
40.1 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.8%
Other/Mixed 1.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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

What strategy should investors use in Deer Creek, MN?

In Deer Creek, MN the significant play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $260K prices and $891/mo rents suits that approach.

What is the typical renter like in Deer Creek, MN?

Tenant demand in Deer Creek, MN is solid. The local workforce $891/mo rents across most rental classes.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Deer Creek, MN?

Rental vacancy in Deer Creek, MN is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Does house hacking make sense in Deer Creek, MN?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Deer Creek, MN reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is rental property easy to operate in Deer Creek, MN?

MN law balanced for landlords, and Deer Creek inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 56527 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 56527 ranks in Fergus Falls, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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