Real Estate Investing in Lafe, Arkansas (72436)

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

Greene County • Population: 844 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 72436 (Lafe, AR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lafe, AR (72436)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $181,275
Avg Monthly Rent $819
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,250
% Renters 6.7%

Market Analysis: 72436 Lafe

The 72436 ZIP in Lafe, AR is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $181K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 72436 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $181K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 72436 sits on the difficult end of the AR spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 72436 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 72436 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Lafe:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $819/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Paragould, AR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.1%
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 Paragould, AR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$190K$165K$140K$115K$90K$65KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 72436 Compare?

Metric 72436 Lafe Paragould, AR Arkansas
Home Value $181,275 $181,275 N/A $216,341
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.2% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $819 $819 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 72436? 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 72436 (Lafe, AR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Paragould, AR 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 $181,275
Monthly Rent $819
Price-to-Rent 18.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
9.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 72436

Population: 844

💰 Median Household Income
$62,250
This area
$62,250
State
$52,981
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
24.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-21.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
-9.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
22.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.5%
This area
19.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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
C
Crowley's Ridge College
225 students · 13.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Lafe, AR?

Lafe, AR posts an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $181K and average rents around $819/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Are rents high in Lafe, AR?

Lafe, AR rentals go for roughly $819/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $181K acquisition costs.

How tight is the rental market in Lafe, AR?

Lafe, AR carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $819/mo.

Is Lafe, AR suited for a house hack?

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

Is AR a landlord-friendly state?

The landlord environment in Lafe, AR is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 72436 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 72436 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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