As of September 2026, the typical home in the Lake Charles metro costs $201,631 and typical rent is $1,358/month — a price-to-rent ratio of 12 and a gross rental yield of 8.1%. Lake Charles scores 71/100 on the Star Score index, ranking #37 of 174 tracked US rental markets.
The Lake Charles metro posts a price-to-rent ratio of 12 on a typical home value of $201,631 and typical rent of $1,358/month — a gross rental yield of 8.1% before expenses. Factor scores below show how it stacks up on landlord law, taxes, growth and risk.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical home value (ZHVI) | $201,631 |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $1,358/mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 12 |
| Gross rental yield | 8.1% |
| Star Score | 71/100 ★★★½☆ |
| Rank among tracked markets | #37 of 174 |
More context: Living in Lake Charles — economy, industries & affordability
See how it stacks up in the full rankings — head-to-head pages cover the top 15 markets.
Active listings our scanner flagged for under-market signals — price cuts, long days on market, below-comp pricing. Leads to underwrite, not appraisals; verify everything locally.
Run one through the BRRRR calculator. Rent figures are modeled from metro data, not appraisals.
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Assumable-mortgage pocket: 29.9% of LA's 2019-21 mortgage originations were government-backed (FHA/VA/USDA) — assumable by law, mostly at ~3% rates. VA loans can be assumed by non-veterans, including for investment purchases. The Assumability Index →
National rule-of-thumb renovation costs (2026, per square foot) applied to a typical ~1,400 sq ft single-family in this market — every house differs, so treat these as planning ranges, not bids:
| Scope | $/sq ft | Typical house |
|---|---|---|
| Paint & refresh (cosmetic light) | $15–25 | $21K–35K |
| Cosmetic full (floors, kitchen refresh, baths) | $25–45 | $35K–63K |
| Full renovation (systems + finishes) | $45–75 | $63K–105K |
| Gut / structural | $75–120 | $105K–168K |
Run your own numbers for Lake Charles in the BRRRR & rehab calculator. Run a rehab crew in Lake Charles? Founding crews list free →
Lake Charles scores 71/100 on the Star Score index (#37 of 174 tracked markets), with a gross rental yield of 8.1% at September 2026 prices. It suits investors prioritizing cash flow over appreciation.
12 — the typical home value ($201,631) divided by a year of typical rent ($1,358/month × 12). Ratios under about 15 generally favor buying and landlording.
With a typical home at $201,631 and rent of $1,358/month (8.1% gross yield), Lake Charles suits the BRRRR strategy well: entry prices leave room to buy below market, renovate, and refinance without trapping capital.
Typical asking rent in the Lake Charles metro is $1,358 per month as of September 2026, per Zillow's Observed Rent Index.