Real Estate Investing in Federal Dam, Minnesota (56641)

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

Cass County • Population: 359 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56641 (Federal Dam, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 52.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Higher unemployment: 12.6% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• 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 Federal Dam, MN (56641)?

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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 $273,913
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,875
% Renters 25.5%

Market Analysis: 56641 Federal Dam

The 56641 ZIP in Federal Dam, MN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $274K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 56641 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 56641 among MN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A healthy renter share of 26% in 56641 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 56641 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Federal Dam:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Brainerd, MN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.7%
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 Brainerd, MN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$289K$247K$204K$162K$120K$78KJan 2011Oct 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56641 Compare?

Metric 56641 Federal Dam Brainerd, MN Minnesota
Home Value $273,913 $273,913 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $891 $891 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56641? 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 56641 (Federal Dam, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Brainerd, MN metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
53%
Days Pending
2/2
66 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $273,913
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 25.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
52.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56641

Population: 359

💰 Median Household Income
$46,875
This area
$46,875
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
12.6%
This area
12.6%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.4%
This area
11.4%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.5 years
This area
42.5 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
52.9%
This area
52.9%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 55.6%
White 41.9%
Asian 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
26.1%
This area
26.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Federal Dam, MN?

Federal Dam, MN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MN rental market.

What is the typical rental rate in Federal Dam, MN?

Rents in Federal Dam, MN run near $891/mo. Compared with median home prices of $274K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What kind of tenants rent in Federal Dam, MN?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Federal Dam, MN. The rental market absorbs $891/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is house hacking profitable in Federal Dam, MN?

The house hack math a challenging in Federal Dam, MN. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $891/mo rents and $274K home values.

How does Federal Dam, MN stack up for property investment?

Federal Dam, MN rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $274K and rents near $891/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 56641 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 56641 ranks in Brainerd, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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