Real Estate Investing in Mesa, Colorado (81643)

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

Mesa County • Population: 957 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81643 (Mesa, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 55.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 41.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• 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 Mesa, CO (81643)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $544,563
Avg Monthly Rent $1,089
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,659
% Renters 6.7%

Market Analysis: 81643 Mesa

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mesa's 81643 ZIP clocks in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $545K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 81643 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $545K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within CO, ZIP 81643 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Mesa County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 81643 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Mesa averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 81643 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 Mesa:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,089/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Grand Junction, CO Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.5%
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 Grand Junction, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 81643

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$185,501/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $371,002 $1,210 2.3% +7.8% $185,501
3BR $607,199 $1,680 2.0% +7.8% $202,400

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$576K$494K$413K$331K$249K$168KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81643 Compare?

Metric 81643 Mesa Grand Junction, CO Colorado
Home Value $544,563 $544,563 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,089 $1,089 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 81643? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 81643 (Mesa, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Grand Junction, CO metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
1/2
60 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $544,563
Monthly Rent $1,089
Price-to-Rent 41.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
55.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81643

Population: 957

💰 Median Household Income
$84,659
This area
$84,659
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.1%
This area
40.1%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
56.0 years
This area
56.0 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
55.1%
This area
55.1%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.4%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.2%
👶 Under 18
12.6%
This area
12.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.8%
This area
28.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

Is vacancy a concern in Mesa, CO?

Expect elevated vacancy in Mesa, CO. Rents at $1,089/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Are rents high in Mesa, CO?

Mesa, CO rentals go for roughly $1,089/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $545K acquisition costs.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Mesa, CO?

Tenant demand in Mesa, CO is solid. The local workforce $1,089/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Mesa, CO suited for a house hack?

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

Is Mesa, CO a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Mesa, CO a 3.0/5 investability score. With $545K home prices against $1,089/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 81643 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 81643 ranks in Grand Junction, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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