Real Estate Investing in Forest Hill, Louisiana (71430)

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

Rapides Parish • Population: 2,527 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 71430 (Forest Hill, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.9% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 20.1% 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 Forest Hill, LA (71430)?

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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 $185,621
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,188
% Renters 28.0%

Market Analysis: 71430 Forest Hill

The 71430 ZIP covers a section of Forest Hill that demands careful diligence. Prices near $186K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 71430 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $186K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 71430 and stronger Forest Hill ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 71430 ZIP's population of 2,527 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 71430 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 Forest Hill:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/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
Alexandria, LA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Alexandria, LA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$198K$188K$179K$169K$159K$149KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 71430 Compare?

Metric 71430 Forest Hill Alexandria, LA Louisiana
Home Value $185,621 $185,621 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR 0.9% 0.9% N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 71430? 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 71430 (Forest Hill, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.9%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Alexandria, LA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
63%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $185,621
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 15.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
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: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
13.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 71430

Population: 2,527

💰 Median Household Income
$48,188
This area
$48,188
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.0%
This area
28.0%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.0 years
This area
39.0 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.1%
This area
13.1%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.0%
Other/Mixed 20.1%
Hispanic/Latino 14.2%
Black/African American 6.8%
👶 Under 18
31.4%
This area
31.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.1%
This area
20.1%
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 71430

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$14,229 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Forest Hill Junior High School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,229 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

3 Nearby 548 Off-Campus Students
C+
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
5,330 students · 10.3 mi
C
Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria
82 students · 14.3 mi
F
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria
479 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 548 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vacancy a concern in Forest Hill, LA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Forest Hill, LA. Rents at $1,008/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Where do rents currently stand in Forest Hill, LA?

Investors in Forest Hill, LA typically see rents near $1,008/mo per month against $186K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the smart move for investors in Forest Hill, LA?

Most investors in Forest Hill, LA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Forest Hill, LA?

Typical homes in Forest Hill, LA go for around $186K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

Should investors consider Forest Hill, LA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Forest Hill, LA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $186K and rents of $1,008/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 71430 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 71430 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 71430 ranks in Alexandria, LA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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