Real Estate Investing in Lavina, Montana (59046)

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

Golden Valley County • Population: 510 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 59046 (Lavina, MT)? 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 vacancy: 29.6% 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 Lavina, MT (59046)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $312,280
Avg Monthly Rent $1,296
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,750
% Renters 19.3%

Market Analysis: 59046 Lavina

Turning to rents, ZIP 59046 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $312K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $312K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 59046 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 59046 sits on the difficult end of the MT spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Looking more closely, 510 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 59046 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $312K 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 Lavina:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,296/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$331K$290K$249K$207K$166K$125KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59046 Compare?

Metric 59046 Lavina Montana
Home Value $312,280 $312,280 $457,278
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,296 $1,296 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 59046? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 59046 (Lavina, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 59046 (Lavina, MT)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $312,280
Monthly Rent $1,296
Price-to-Rent 20.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
29.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59046

Population: 510

💰 Median Household Income
$68,750
This area
$68,750
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.3 years
This area
46.3 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
29.6%
This area
29.6%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.9%
Other/Mixed 10.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 59046

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
6.6:1 Avg Class Size
$22,938 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lavina Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
37 Students
👨‍🏫
6.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,938 Per Student
A Very Good

Lavina High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
19 Students
👨‍🏫
4.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,938 Per Student
A Very Good

Lavina Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
17 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,938 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 is the typical vacancy rate in Lavina, MT?

Rental vacancy in Lavina, MT is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What is the typical renter like in Lavina, MT?

The renter base in Lavina, MT is reasonable for the $1,296/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

Does house hacking make sense in Lavina, MT?

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

What is the typical rental rate in Lavina, MT?

Expect rents around $1,296/mo per month in Lavina, MT. With home values at $312K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How expensive is real estate in Lavina, MT?

In Lavina, MT the median home value sits at $312K. Against the broader MT market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 59046 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59046 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 59046 (Lavina)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 59046 (Lavina, MT).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.