Real Estate Investing in Ulen, Minnesota (56585)

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

Clay County • Population: 1,067 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56585 (Ulen, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.8 — 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 Ulen, MN (56585)?

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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 $312,582
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,098
% Renters 18.4%

Market Analysis: 56585 Ulen

This part of Clay County is not an easy win. The 56585 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 56585 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader MN picture, 56585 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 56585 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 56585 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $313K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Ulen:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
52 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.3%
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 Fargo, ND-MN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$329K$287K$245K$204K$162K$120KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56585 Compare?

Metric 56585 Ulen Fargo, ND-MN Minnesota
Home Value $312,582 $312,582 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 3.9% 3.9% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56585? 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 56585 (Ulen, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $312,582
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 29.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56585

Population: 1,067

💰 Median Household Income
$58,098
This area
$58,098
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.4%
This area
18.4%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.3 years
This area
50.3 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.0%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 0.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.3%
This area
32.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
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

🎓 Schools in 56585

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$22,215 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

ULEN-HITTERDAL ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 06 School
👥
140 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,215 Per Student
A Very Good

ULEN-HITTERDAL SECONDARY

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
145 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,215 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 do experienced investors play Ulen, MN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Ulen, MN. With home values at $313K and rents near $873/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

Is the tenant base reliable in Ulen, MN?

The tenant pool in Ulen, MN is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $873/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How much is rent in Ulen, MN?

Expect rents around $873/mo per month in Ulen, MN. With home values at $313K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is Ulen, MN landlord-friendly?

Ulen, MN falls under MN landlord-tenant law, which is balanced. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is house hacking profitable in Ulen, MN?

Ulen, MN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $873/mo rent level.

You know 56585 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 56585 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 56585 ranks in Fargo, ND-MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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