DSCR loans in Monroe, LA

Monroe by the Census numbers

The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey puts median gross rent in Monroe at $886, about 17% below the Louisiana median of $1,064. Median home value sits at $198,900, which is about 8% below the Louisiana median of $216,500. Put the two medians together and Monroe shows a gross yield of 5.3%, on the low side, so the payment, not the rent, usually decides whether a file clears. Because the rent number covers apartments as well as houses, expect single-family rentals to land above or below it.

52.2% of households in Monroe rent, well above the Louisiana median of 33%. A large renter base supports steady leasing but also means plenty of competing listings. Median household income of $40,505 (well below the Louisiana median of $60,756) sets the ceiling for rent growth, and 65% of renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent.

Housing stock and vacancy in Monroe

Detached single-family homes make up 71% of the housing units in Monroe, so most rentals here compete as houses, and rents follow neighborhood and school boundaries more than building type. Homes here date to 1971 at the median, which is old enough to need system replacement but modern enough to avoid the worst surprises.

Vacancy is a quiet driver of rent. 15% of homes are vacant citywide and 9.4% of the rental inventory was listed for rent when the Census surveyed.

Underwriting angles in Monroe

A 5.3% gross ratio leaves little margin in Monroe. Every dollar of insurance, tax and association dues matters, and some deals work only with lower leverage. Median build year 1971 puts the typical Monroe rental in its second set of major systems. Because 52% of households rent, vacancies tend to refill, and the pricing question is how much to charge relative to nearby units.

Insurance, tax and flood context for Monroe

Property taxes in Monroe run a median $1,001 a year for owners, about 15% below the Louisiana median of $1,180. As a share of median value, that is about 0.50%. At the median rent that tax bill takes roughly 9% of a year's rent before insurance, dues or interest.

The federal National Risk Index scores Ouachita County relatively moderate for overall risk, led by ice storms (very high), heat waves (relatively high) and tornadoes (relatively high). That is a county-level view, so check the flood map for the exact parcel.

In Ouachita Parish, as anywhere, the premium is part of PITIA, which means a quote with the roof, age and flood zone of the actual Monroe address belongs in your file early.

The ratio in Monroe dollars

Try the math at the medians. With rent at $886 and taxes near $83 a month, a 1.00 DSCR leaves $803 for everything else in the payment, a 1.20 ratio leaves $655, and a 1.25 ratio leaves $625. Any real property will differ, but the exercise shows how little room insurance and dues can take.

Registration, deposits and nightly stays in Monroe

This page does not claim to list every Monroe rental ordinance. Before you buy, call the city's planning or code office and Ouachita Parish to ask about rental registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and read any association declaration. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Monroe. Louisiana treats short-term rentals furnished to transient guests as taxable sleeping-room rentals, and platforms such as Airbnb must collect and remit state and local sales tax on Louisiana bookings.

Deposits come due back within 30 days of the tenant leaving, and Monroe owners should document condition at both ends of the lease. For month-to-month tenants in Louisiana, the landlord's termination notice is Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.

Other Louisiana cities for context

Statewide context for Monroe: median home values in the other Louisiana cities below run from $178,900 to $295,100, and Monroe is $198,900.

Tenants, jobs and anchors in Monroe

Self-employed workers, incorporated or not, make up 10.3% of employed residents, a group that often has irregular tax-return income and a natural fit with rent-based qualification. The same survey shows government workers are about 14% of employment, 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.

The largest employers listed for Monroe for 2019 include Ouachita Parish School Board, Lumen Technologies, Inc. (formerly CenturyLink), St. Francis Specialty Hospital, Monroe City Schools and IASIS Healthcare (Glenwood Regional Medical Center). Large, stable payrolls like these tend to anchor rental demand near their job sites. Colleges tied to Monroe include University of Louisiana Monroe and Louisiana Delta Community College, and campus-adjacent streets often rent to students and staff on a school-year rhythm. Transportation links include interstate access via I-20 and air service through Monroe Regional Airport (Louisiana). Easy highway and air access helps both tenant commutes and remote ownership.

Moving from numbers to a Monroe loan

Ready to test a Monroe deal? Use the calculator for the ratio, then start your application or send us the scenario.

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Sources

• Wikipedia article, Monroe, Louisiana
• Louisiana security deposit statute (La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252, 9:3254)
• Lodging tax reference: Louisiana Department of Revenue FAQ
• 2020 to 2024 ACS data used for Monroe
• FEMA county hazard table

Numbers for Monroe come from the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 ACS and are survey estimates. Deposit and notice summaries come from RedFlagLease (CC BY 4.0) and the linked Louisiana sections. Checked October 2026; confirm with Monroe or the county before you rely on any rule.

DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.