Real Estate Investing in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (56572)

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

Otter Tail County • Population: 5,900 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56572 (Pelican Rapids, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 45.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 38.5 — 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 Pelican Rapids, MN (56572)?

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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 $406,965
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,609
% Renters 17.2%

Market Analysis: 56572 Pelican Rapids

Investors eyeing 56572 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $407K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 56572 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 56572 among MN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 56572 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 56572 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 Pelican Rapids:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.8%)
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
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
🏠

Property Strategy for 56572

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$148,239/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $348,190 $980 2.0% +7.9% $174,095
3BR $444,716 $1,360 2.2% +8.4% $148,239

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$426K$370K$314K$257K$201K$145KFeb 2010May 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56572 Compare?

Metric 56572 Pelican Rapids Fergus Falls, MN Minnesota
Home Value $406,965 $406,965 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56572? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 56572 (Pelican Rapids, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📉 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 $406,965
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 38.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.6%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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
45.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56572

Population: 5,900

💰 Median Household Income
$73,609
This area
$73,609
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.5 years
This area
46.5 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
45.2%
This area
45.2%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.9%
Other/Mixed 12.6%
Hispanic/Latino 9.9%
Black/African American 3.7%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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 56572

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$17,471 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

VIKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,471 Per Student
A+ Excellent

PELICAN RAPIDS SECONDARY

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
400 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,471 Per Student
C+ Average

PELICAN RAPIDS ALT CENTER MID-LEVEL

📚 07 – 08 Middle Limited Data
💰
$17,471 Per Student
C+ Average

PELICAN RAPIDS ALT LEARNING CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$17,471 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

What strategy should investors use in Pelican Rapids, MN?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Pelican Rapids, MN. The numbers - $407K homes against $882/mo rents - support that play.

How strong are rents in Pelican Rapids, MN?

Rental rates in Pelican Rapids, MN average $882/mo. Tenant demand and $407K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How strong is the working-renter base in Pelican Rapids, MN?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Pelican Rapids, MN. The rental market absorbs $882/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How landlord-friendly is Pelican Rapids, MN?

Pelican Rapids, MN operates under MN law, which is balanced overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the median home value in Pelican Rapids, MN?

In Pelican Rapids, MN the median home value sits at $407K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 56572 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 56572 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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How 56572 ranks in Fergus Falls, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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