Real Estate Investing in Saint James, Louisiana (70086)

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

Saint James Parish • Population: 1,516 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 70086 (Saint James, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Saint James, LA (70086)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $152,831
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,377
% Renters 29.3%

Market Analysis: 70086 Saint James

Investors eyeing 70086 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $153K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 70086 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

On balance, 70086 offers a low basis, the region around Saint James has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 70086 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Saint James's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 70086. 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 Saint James:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
97 days
Average time to sell
Slow
7.5%
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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$167K$160K$152K$145K$138KFeb 2020May 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 70086 Compare?

Metric 70086 Saint James New Orleans-Metairie, LA Louisiana
Home Value $152,831 $152,831 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $792 $792 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 70086? 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 70086 (Saint James, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
-1.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $152,831
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 3.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -2.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
13.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 70086

Population: 1,516

💰 Median Household Income
$50,377
This area
$50,377
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.3%
This area
29.3%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 87.8%
Other/Mixed 6.7%
White 5.5%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.9%
This area
16.9%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 878 Off-Campus Students
C
River Parishes Community College
2,406 students · 11.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 878 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Saint James, LA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Saint James, LA. With home values at $153K and rents near $792/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Saint James, LA?

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

Is LA a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Saint James, LA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How strong is Saint James, LA for real estate investors?

Saint James, LA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $153K and rents near $792/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Saint James, LA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Saint James, LA. The rental market absorbs $792/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 70086 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 70086 ranks in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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