Real Estate Investing in Franklin, Louisiana (70538)

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

Saint Mary Parish • Population: 12,561 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 70538 (Franklin, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 21.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -4.1% 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 Franklin, LA (70538)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $97,654
Avg Monthly Rent $855
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,174
% Renters 26.4%

Market Analysis: 70538 Franklin

ZIP 70538 in Franklin, LA carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $98K and rents of $855/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $98K asset, 70538 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 70538 among LA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 70538 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 70538 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 Franklin:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $855/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
Morgan City, LA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.0%
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 Morgan City, LA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$129K$121K$113K$106K$98K$90KJun 2015Jan 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 70538 Compare?

Metric 70538 Franklin Morgan City, LA Louisiana
Home Value $97,654 $97,654 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $855 $855 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.8% 6.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 70538? 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 70538 (Franklin, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.8%
Good
5yr Growth
-4.1%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Morgan City, LA 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 $97,654
Monthly Rent $855
Price-to-Rent 9.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.5%
Cap Rate 6.8%
5-Year IRR 2.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -6.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -4.1% ▼
10-Year CAGR -2.3% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.8%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
21.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-4.1%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 70538

Population: 12,561

💰 Median Household Income
$47,174
This area
$47,174
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.4 years
This area
41.4 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 50.2%
Black/African American 42.9%
Other/Mixed 6.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
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 70538

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,534 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Franklin Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
210 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,817 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Franklin Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,817 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LaGrange Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,817 Per Student
B+ Above Average

V. B. Glencoe Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,403 Per Student
B+ Above Average

W.P. Foster Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
262 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,817 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 much do tenants pay in Franklin, LA?

Rental rates in Franklin, LA average $855/mo. Tenant demand and $98K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What are vacancy rates like in Franklin, LA?

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

Is Franklin in LA worth investing in?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Franklin, LA reflects its $98K prices and $855/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within LA.

What does house hacking look like in Franklin, LA?

Franklin, LA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $98K price point reasonable to enter.

Are landlord laws favorable in Franklin, LA?

LA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Franklin inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 70538 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 70538 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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