Real Estate Investing in Bigfork, Montana (59911)

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

Lake County • Population: 9,316 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59911 (Bigfork, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 33.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Bigfork, MT (59911)?

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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 $811,006
Avg Monthly Rent $1,700
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,820
% Renters 16.9%

Market Analysis: 59911 Bigfork

Investors eyeing 59911 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $811K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 59911 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 59911's metrics run below Lake County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 59911 ZIP's population of 9,316 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 59911 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Bigfork:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,700/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kalispell, MT Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.7%
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 Kalispell, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59911

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+13.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$273,975/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $479,017 $1,360 2.0% +11.3% $479,017
2BR $636,871 $1,780 2.0% +11.3% $318,435
3BR $821,924 $2,320 2.0% +12.0% $273,975
4BR $1,166,079 $2,810 1.7% +13.3% $291,520
5BR $1,507,269 +13.1% $301,454

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$859K$735K$611K$486K$362K$238KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,894$1,853$1,811$1,769$1,727$1,686Jul 2025Dec 2025Apr 2026

📊 How Does 59911 Compare?

Metric 59911 Bigfork Kalispell, MT Montana
Home Value $811,006 $811,006 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,700 $1,700 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59911? 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 59911 (Bigfork, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kalispell, MT metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $811,006
Monthly Rent $1,700
Price-to-Rent 39.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.5%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
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: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
33.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59911

Population: 9,316

💰 Median Household Income
$75,820
This area
$75,820
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.8%
This area
49.8%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.0 years
This area
52.0 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
33.5%
This area
33.5%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.3%
Other/Mixed 10.2%
Hispanic/Latino 7.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.2%
This area
29.2%
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

🎓 Schools in 59911

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$44,553 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Salmon Prairie School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
4 Students
👨‍🏫
4.0:1 Class Size
💰
$209,000 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bigfork High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,603 Per Student
B Good

Bigfork Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
445 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$10,600 Per Student
C+ Average

Swan River School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
111 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,257 Per Student
C+ Average

Swan River 6-8

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
69 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,257 Per Student
C+ Average

Bigfork 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,600 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

How strong is Bigfork, MT for real estate investors?

Bigfork, MT rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $811K and rents near $1,700/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is the tenant base reliable in Bigfork, MT?

The renter base in Bigfork, MT is reasonable for the $1,700/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

What are rental rates like in Bigfork, MT?

Rental rates in Bigfork, MT average $1,700/mo. Tenant demand and $811K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork, MT sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MT rental market.

Is Bigfork, MT suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Bigfork, MT is a challenging. The $1,700/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $811K property.

You know 59911 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 59911 ranks in Kalispell, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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