Real Estate Investing in Mentor, Minnesota (56736)

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

Polk County • Population: 670 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56736 (Mentor, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 65.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.9 — 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 Mentor, MN (56736)?

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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 $340,861
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,563
% Renters 9.2%

Market Analysis: 56736 Mentor

ZIP 56736 in Mentor, MN carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $341K and rents of $918/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 56736 is impressive only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $341K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 56736 sits on the difficult end of the MN spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 56736 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 56736 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 Mentor:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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
Grand Forks, ND-MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Grand Forks, ND-MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 56736

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
2.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$126,322/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $344,848 $1,020 2.1% +7.7% $172,424
3BR $434,799 $1,410 2.3% +7.2% $144,933
4BR $505,286 $1,690 2.4% +5.6% $126,322

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$362K$322K$282K$242K$202K$162KApr 2013Dec 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56736 Compare?

Metric 56736 Mentor Grand Forks, ND-MN Minnesota
Home Value $340,861 $340,861 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56736? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 56736 (Mentor, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $340,861
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 30.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
65.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56736

Population: 670

💰 Median Household Income
$81,563
This area
$81,563
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
56.8 years
This area
56.8 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
65.5%
This area
65.5%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 1.2%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
15.8%
This area
15.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.5%
This area
32.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Mentor, MN?

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

What is the tenant pool like in Mentor, MN?

Tenant quality in Mentor, MN ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $918/mo.

What do rentals go for in Mentor, MN?

Expect rents around $918/mo per month in Mentor, MN. With home values at $341K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is MN a landlord-friendly state?

For rental operators, Mentor, MN rates as balanced. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Which real estate strategy fits Mentor, MN?

Most investors in Mentor, MN run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 56736 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 56736 ranks in Grand Forks, ND-MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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