Real Estate Investing in Billings, Montana (59101)

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

Yellowstone County • Population: 41,797 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59101 (Billings, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Billings, MT (59101)?

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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 $336,360
Avg Monthly Rent $1,189
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,659
% Renters 42.1%

Market Analysis: 59101 Billings

The 59101 ZIP covers a section of Billings that demands careful diligence. Prices near $336K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 59101 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $336K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 59101 sits on the difficult end of the MT spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 59101 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 59101 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Billings:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,189/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Billings, MT Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.8%
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 Billings, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59101

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$96,118/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $189,960 $1,060 4.0% +9.1% $189,960
2BR $264,385 $1,350 3.7% +8.0% $132,193
3BR $335,497 $1,860 4.0% +7.6% $111,832
4BR $384,473 $2,110 4.0% +7.3% $96,118
5BR $500,426 +7.3% $100,085

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$350K$310K$269K$228K$188K$147KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,229$1,193$1,158$1,123$1,088$1,052Mar 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59101 Compare?

Metric 59101 Billings Billings, MT Montana
Home Value $336,360 $212,213 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 5.5% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,189 $1,430 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59101? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 59101 (Billings, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Yellowstone County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Happy Homes Property Management offers patio home apartments in Billings, MT. summary from their website

Small multifamily
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Yellowstone Property Managers Association is an association for property managers. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Billings, MT metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
52%
Days Pending
1/2
58 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $336,360
Monthly Rent $1,189
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
8.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59101

Population: 41,797

💰 Median Household Income
$56,659
This area
$56,659
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.1%
This area
42.1%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.1%
This area
24.1%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.0 years
This area
36.0 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.8%
Other/Mixed 19.1%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Black/African American 1.5%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
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

🎓 Schools in 59101

B+ Avg School Grade
17 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,917 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Morin School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
36 Students
👨‍🏫
7.2:1 Class Size
💰
$31,185 Per Student
A Very Good

Lockwood Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
339 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,336 Per Student
A Very Good

Lockwood Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,336 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lockwood High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
556 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,336 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lockwood Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
401 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,336 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Riverside Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Canyon Creek School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
148 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,707 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Elysian School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,481 Per Student
B+ Above Average

McKinley School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
299 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Newman School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
227 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Orchard School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ponderosa School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B Good

Lewis & Clark Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
727 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,071 Per Student
B Good

Elysian Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
130 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,481 Per Student
B Good

Canyon Creek 6-8

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
47 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,707 Per Student
C+ Average

Blue Creek School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,898 Per Student
C+ Average

Billings Sr High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,675 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,352 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 1,088 Off-Campus Students
C+
Montana State University Billings
4,092 students · 13.8 mi
C+
Montana Bible College
47 students · 14.4 mi
C
Aveda Institute Montana
34 students · 14.5 mi
C
Rocky Mountain College
991 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,088 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Billings, MT?

Occupancy in Billings, MT runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,189/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How strong are rents in Billings, MT?

The typical rental in Billings, MT commands about $1,189/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $336K purchase basis.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Billings, MT?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Billings, MT. The rental market absorbs $1,189/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What approach is best for Billings, MT real estate?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Billings, MT. The numbers - $336K homes against $1,189/mo rents - support that play.

Are homes affordable in Billings, MT?

Billings, MT median home values land near $336K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,189/mo-per-month rentals.

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How 59101 ranks in Billings, MT

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