Real Estate Investing in Monroe, Louisiana (71203)

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

Ouachita Parish • Population: 38,770 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 71203 (Monroe, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Monroe, LA (71203)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $188,995
Avg Monthly Rent $1,707
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $43,298
% Renters 44.0%

Market Analysis: 71203 Monroe

On balance, ZIP 71203 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $189K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,707/mo on a $189K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 71203 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 71203's metrics run below Ouachita Parish's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 71203 ZIP's population of 38,770 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 71203, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Monroe:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,707/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
Monroe, LA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.7%
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 Monroe, LA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 71203

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
9.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+4.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$41,262/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $82,525 $1,090 9.5% +3.5% $41,262
3BR $177,373 $1,400 5.7% +4.4% $59,124
4BR $290,257 $1,440 3.6% +3.9% $72,564
5BR $415,651 +3.9% $83,130

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$195K$178K$161K$144K$128K$111KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,772$1,584$1,397$1,210$1,022$835Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 71203 Compare?

Metric 71203 Monroe Monroe, LA Louisiana
Home Value $188,995 $38,799 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 2.2% N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $1,707 $1,416 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.0% 7.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 71203? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 44% 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 71203 (Monroe, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.0%
Good
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Monroe, LA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
1/2
58 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $188,995
Monthly Rent $1,707
Price-to-Rent 9.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.8%
Cap Rate 7.0%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.0%). 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
13.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 71203

Population: 38,770

💰 Median Household Income
$43,298
This area
$43,298
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.0%
This area
44.0%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.7%
This area
29.7%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.5 years
This area
33.5 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 48.1%
White 46.2%
Other/Mixed 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
24.9%
This area
24.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.6%
This area
18.6%
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 71203

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,576 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cypress Point Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,250 Per Student
A Very Good

Roy Neal Shelling Sr. Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,250 Per Student
A Very Good

Ouachita Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
360 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East Ouachita Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
516 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Swartz Lower Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B Good

Jack Hayes Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
565 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B Good

Lakeshore School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B Good

Sterlington High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
557 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B Good

Swartz Upper Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
B Good

Ouachita Parish High School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
1,190 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,948 Per Student
C+ Average

Sherrouse School

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
187 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,250 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

8 Nearby 2,795 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Louisiana at Monroe
8,272 students · 5.2 mi
D
Cloyd's Beauty School 3 Inc
94 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Celebrity Barber School
16 students · 5.9 mi
C+
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School
45 students · 6.0 mi
C
Louisiana Delta Community College
3,775 students · 6.2 mi
D
Miller-Motte College-McCann-Monroe
111 students · 6.6 mi
C
Cloyd's Barber School 2 Inc
37 students · 8.1 mi
C
Unitech Training Academy-West Monroe
98 students · 8.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,795 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Monroe, LA?

Median home price in Monroe, LA is near $189K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is real estate in Monroe, LA a good investment right now?

Monroe, LA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $189K and rents near $1,707/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Monroe, LA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Monroe, LA. The rental market absorbs $1,707/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is it like being a landlord in Monroe, LA?

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

Is Monroe, LA suited for a house hack?

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

You know 71203 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 71203 ranks in Monroe, LA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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