Real Estate Investing in Bernice, Louisiana (71222)

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

Union Parish • Population: 2,621 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 71222 (Bernice, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 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
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 23.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -5.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.5% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 25.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Bernice, LA (71222)?

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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 $102,169
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $33,603
% Renters 31.7%

Market Analysis: 71222 Bernice

Investors eyeing 71222 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $102K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 71222 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader LA picture, 71222 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A solid renter share of 32% in 71222 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 71222 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Bernice:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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 71222

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
8.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
-1.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$32,496/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $82,500 $900 7.9% -1.7% $41,250
3BR $97,489 $1,150 8.5% -2.0% $32,496

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$137K$130K$122K$114K$106K$98KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 71222 Compare?

Metric 71222 Bernice Monroe, LA Louisiana
Home Value $102,169 $102,169 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.2% 6.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 71222? 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 →
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 71222 (Bernice, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.2%
Good
5yr Growth
-5.0%
Declining

📉 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 $102,169
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 10.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.5%
Cap Rate 6.2%
5-Year IRR 1.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR -5.0% ▼
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: 6.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.2%). 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
23.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-5.0%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 71222

Population: 2,621

💰 Median Household Income
$33,603
This area
$33,603
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.7%
This area
31.7%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.3 years
This area
47.3 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.6%
This area
23.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 56.3%
Black/African American 35.2%
Other/Mixed 8.4%
Hispanic/Latino 7.1%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.3%
This area
25.3%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Bernice, LA?

Bernice, LA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What is the smart move for investors in Bernice, LA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Bernice, LA. With home values at $102K and rents near $810/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

How much is rent in Bernice, LA?

Average rent in Bernice, LA is approximately $810/mo per month. Against $102K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What kind of tenants rent in Bernice, LA?

The renter base in Bernice, LA is reasonable for the $810/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

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

Our data puts Bernice, LA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $102K and rents around $810/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 71222 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 71222 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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How 71222 ranks in Monroe, LA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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