Real Estate Investing in Lima, Montana (59739)

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

Beaverhead County • Population: 303 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59739 (Lima, MT)? 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 53.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.4 — 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 Lima, MT (59739)?

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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 $276,604
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,094
% Renters 11.2%

Market Analysis: 59739 Lima

Investors eyeing 59739 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $277K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $909/mo on a $277K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 59739 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Lima have seen price recovery that 59739 has not matched. Beaverhead County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 59739 ZIP's population of 303 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that comes in at the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Lima's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 59739. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Lima:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/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)

$294K$253K$212K$171K$130K$89KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59739 Compare?

Metric 59739 Lima Montana
Home Value $276,604 $276,604 $457,278
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 8.0% 9.2%
Avg Rent $909 $909 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 59739? 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 59739 (Lima, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $276,604
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 25.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
53.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59739

Population: 303

💰 Median Household Income
$51,094
This area
$51,094
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.8%
This area
19.8%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.6 years
This area
50.6 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
53.6%
This area
53.6%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.9%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
👶 Under 18
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.9%
This area
35.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
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 59739

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
4.9:1 Avg Class Size
$27,746 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lima 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
6 Students
👨‍🏫
2.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,746 Per Student
A Very Good

Lima High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
18 Students
👨‍🏫
4.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,746 Per Student
A Very Good

Lima School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
37 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,746 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

Where do home prices stand in Lima, MT?

Lima, MT median home values land near $277K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $909/mo-per-month rentals.

How deep is the rental pool in Lima, MT?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Lima, MT. The rental market absorbs $909/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Are there empty rentals in Lima, MT?

Vacancy in Lima, MT is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $909/mo.

Is house hacking profitable in Lima, MT?

House hacking works a challenging in Lima, MT. Rents of $909/mo against $277K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is Lima, MT a friendly market for rental owners?

Lima, MT falls under MT landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 59739 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59739 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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