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Lafayette, LA

Is Lafayette a good place to buy rental property in 2026?

Short answer: yes — for cash-flow investors. Lafayette's median cap rate runs about 7.5% (Louisiana state median), above the ~6.5% national median, with typical rent at $1,019–$1,301/mo and Louisiana property tax near 0.56%.

Lafayette is the hub of Acadiana — energy, healthcare, and a university base with affordable entry and steady demand.

Lafayette market snapshot

Cash-flow market

Higher typical cap rates — built for monthly cash flow more than price growth.

Typical cap rate

7.5%

Louisiana state median

Typical rent

$1,019–$1,301/mo

HUD FMR · 2–3BR · 2026

Typical price

$170,000–$260,000

est., all-in

Property tax

0.56%

Louisiana effective

Rent is HUD Fair Market Rent where available, otherwise a market estimate; price is a market estimate. Cap-rate and tax are the defaults TrueCap applies — enter a specific address for exact, auto-filled numbers.

Sources & methodology. These are screening defaults and market estimates — not an appraisal, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Verify rents, taxes, insurance, and local landlord/tenant law against the county assessor and your state's landlord-tenant statute before relying on them.

Data: HUD Fair Market Rent · FRED 30-yr mortgage rate · Tax Foundation (property tax) · Updated July 2026

Metro-level estimates — precision is lower at the neighborhood and parcel level; pull a specific address for exact, auto-filled figures. Reviewed by the TrueCap team. See our full methodology.

Why Lafayette works for rental investors

Diversified demand and reasonable prices make for solid cash flow. Louisiana insurance is the cost to model carefully.

Neighborhoods to look at in Lafayette

River Ranch

Desirable, walkable, steady demand.

South Lafayette

Newer SFRs, family renters.

Neighborhood notes are starting points, not recommendations — always underwrite the specific property.

Run a Lafayette deal in 60 seconds

Paste a Lafayette address into TrueCap and get cap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCR, cash flow, and a 10-year projection — auto-filled with Louisiana tax and HUD rent so you start from the right assumptions.

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