Patterson is home to the best residential real estate investment market in Louisiana.
The 70392 zip code in Patterson presents the greatest opportunity for the best real estate investments among the 2,876 individual real estate markets in Louisiana we evaluated. We looked at property values, population trends, and six other metrics for each market. We used that data to calculate each market's InvestScore.
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Data sources
Most of the data in this article comes from the Zillow Home Value Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey.
We update our data when the original sources update their data, usually monthly. Sometimes we'll update data more frequently.
Clever also performs regular quality checks to identify outdated data, broken data connections, and other data issues that may arise.
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5 best places to invest in Louisiana
| Rank | City | InvestScore | Affordability | Property value appreciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patterson | 100 | 2.4 | 14% |
| 2 | Welsh | 98.6 | 1.9 | -9.7% |
| 3 | Albany | 97.4 | 2.4 | 26% |
| 4 | Downsville | 97.3 | 2.2 | 12% |
| 5 | Shreveport | 97.1 | 2.1 | -0.2% |
🚨 This article is for informational purposes only. It isn't intended to convey financial or legal advice. We recommend you talk to a real estate agent or real estate attorney when buying a home in Louisiana.
1. Patterson
We've identified the 70392 zip code in Patterson as Louisiana's best real estate investment market. Here's why.
🔎 Key data about Patterson (70392)
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,876 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestScore | 100 | Highest |
| Typical property value | $136,968[1] | 49th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 14%[2] | 48th highest |
| Household income | $57,959[3] | 116th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.4 | 27th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 0.2%[4] | 99th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4%[5] | lowest |
| Property taxes | $584[6] | 53rd lowest |
| Educational attainment | 10%[7] | 157th highest |
Patterson (zip code 70392) is the best residential real estate investment market in Louisiana. It has the 48th highest property value appreciation among markets we evaluated, with a 14% appreciation of the typical property over the last five years.
Patterson is the 27th most affordable market among the 2,876 Louisiana markets we evaluated, with an affordability ratio of 2.4.
2. Welsh
The 70591 zip code in Welsh is the runner-up spot for the best real estate investments in Louisiana.
🔎 Key data about Welsh (70591)
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,876 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestScore | 98.6 | 2nd highest |
| Typical property value | $148,995[1] | 58th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | -9.7%[2] | 155th highest |
| Household income | $78,393[3] | 46th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 1.9 | 9th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 6.2%[4] | 13th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2%[5] | 7th lowest |
| Property taxes | $318[6] | 15th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 11%[7] | 151st highest |
The 70591 zip code in Welsh features a typical property value of $148,995, the 58th lowest in the state.
Property values have appreciated -9.7% over the past five years, the 155th highest increase among evaluated markets in the state. Welsh homes have an affordability ratio of 1.9, the 9th most affordable in the state.
3. Albany
The 70711 zip code in Albany comes in at No. 3 in our ranking of the best residential real estate investment markets in Louisiana.
🔎 Key data about Albany (70711)
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,876 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestScore | 97.4 | 3rd highest |
| Typical property value | $229,252[1] | 143rd lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 26%[2] | 7th highest |
| Household income | $93,623[3] | 17th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.4 | 35th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | -0.2%[4] | 113th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7%[5] | 4th lowest |
| Property taxes | $719[6] | 67th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 17%[7] | 110th highest |
With a typical property value of $229,252, Albany's 70711 zip code features the 143rd lowest property values in the state.
Albany homes have an affordability ratio of 2.4, the 35th most affordable among the markets we evaluated.
4. Downsville
The 71234 zip code in Downsville ranks No. 4 among Louisiana's residential real estate investment markets.
🔎 Key data about Downsville (71234)
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,876 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestScore | 97.3 | 4th highest |
| Typical property value | $185,934[1] | 99th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 12%[2] | 56th highest |
| Household income | $84,740[3] | 56th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.2 | 21st most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 3%[4] | 46th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3%[5] | 8th lowest |
| Property taxes | $1,254[6] | 124th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 17%[7] | 115th highest |
Property values in Downsville's 71234 zip code have seen the 56th highest increase among evaluated markets in the state, with an appreciation of 12% over the past five years.
Downsville's affordability ratio of 2.2 makes it the 21st most affordable among the 2,876 markets we evaluated.
5. Shreveport
The 71104 zip code in Shreveport rounds out our top five residential real estate investment markets in Louisiana.
🔎 Key data about Shreveport (71104)
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,876 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestScore | 97.1 | 5th highest |
| Typical property value | $118,513[1] | 30th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | -0.2%[2] | 114th highest |
| Household income | $56,833[3] | 114th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.1 | 18th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 3.1%[4] | 43rd highest |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9%[5] | 5th lowest |
| Property taxes | $1,053[6] | 104th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 33%[7] | 45th highest |
Property values in Shreveport's 71104 zip code rose -0.2% over the last five years, ranking the city 114th highest among evaluated markets in Louisiana.
Shreveport homes have an affordability ratio of 2.1, the 18th most affordable among the markets we evaluated.
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Frequently asked questions
See our article Steps to Buying Your First Rental Property to learn the basics of real estate investing for beginners.
You'll learn the importance of setting goals, picking the right market, and more.
Cash investors often use what's called the 70% rule, which suggests they should pay around 70% of a house's after-repair value minus the cost of renovations.
By buying for about 70% of the after-repair value, they're positioning themselves to pay for repairs and other costs, and to lock in a profit.
The 70% rule isn’t a hard-and-fast formula, but a quick guideline investors use to evaluate potential deals.
Investing in residential real estate can be one of the best passive real estate investments in Louisiana.
Residential real estate offers accessible passive income and the potential to compound your original investment.
Renting out residential units is the top way to invest in real estate. House hacking also offers a great opportunity for passive real estate investment income.
How we rank residential real estate markets in Louisiana
To determine the best real estate investments in Louisiana we evaluated 2,876 markets on eight metrics, and then assigned an InvestScore based on a proprietary weighting framework. Each market corresponds to a specific zip code in Louisiana.
What is InvestScore?
InvestScore is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the residential real estate investment potential of a given market. It takes into account a suite of key data points for each city.
- Typical property value: This measures the typical home value in this zip code, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. It reflects the typical value for homes in the 35th to 65th percentile range, including all homes, with the numbers smoothed and seasonally adjusted. We prefer lower property values, which indicate both more room for growth and a greater ease of purchase.
- Property value appreciation: This measures how much property values have increased in the area over the past five years, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. We prefer a higher appreciation, as it indicates better returns on housing. However, past performance isn't indicative of future results.
- Median household income: This is the inflation-adjusted median household income in the zip code, according to U.S. Census American Community Survey data. We prefer a higher household income, as it indicates local residents have more income to spend on housing.
- Affordability ratio: This is the ratio of the typical home value to the median household income in the area. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home, which indicates higher demand.
- Population growth: This is how much the area's population has grown over the past five years, according to U.S. Census estimates. Higher is better, as it indicates residents are moving into the area at a rapid clip.
- Unemployment rate: This is the unemployment rate in the area, according to U.S. Census data. We prefer a lower rate, as it indicates the availability of steady employment in the area, meaning residents will find it much easier to afford homes.
- Property tax: This is the median real estate property tax paid in the area, according to U.S. Census estimates.
- Educational attainment: This is the percentage of residents in the area that have obtained a bachelor's degree or better, according to U.S. Census estimates. We prefer a higher rate because it indicates local residents who have higher earning potential and thus should be able to afford homes.
