Louisiana Rental Portfolio Guide
What you need to know before building or growing a rental portfolio in Louisiana — property tax burden, state income tax, security-deposit rule, source-of-income law, and the metros that actually cash-flow after accounting for local taxes.
Tax burden on Louisiana rentals
Property tax
0.56%
effective rate on median home value
At 0.56% effective, this is one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country (rank 5 of 51). Portfolio holding costs stay low even in appreciating markets — a big structural advantage for long-term holds.
State income tax
4.25%
top marginal rate
A top marginal rate of 4.25% is moderate. Portfolio income above the federal deduction stack still faces this rate on top of federal, so tax-optimized holding structures (installment sales, 1031s, cost-segregation) matter more here than in no-tax states.
Security deposit rule
No statutory cap on security deposits. Landlords set the deposit at whatever the market accepts — typically one to two months' rent, sometimes more for higher-risk applicants or pets. Local ordinances may still apply.
Deposit rules change; verify current statute before drafting a lease.
Best cash-flow markets in Louisiana
Modeled monthly cash flow on a median-priced single-family purchase at 20% down, 30-year fixed, using Louisiana’s 0.56% effective property tax rate plus 25% of rent for insurance, maintenance, vacancy and management.
| Market | Median price | Median rent | Annual property tax | CF / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opelousas, LA | $133,550 | $1,013 | $748 | $-3 |
| Shreveport, LA | $186,193 | $1,348 | $1,043 | $-52 |
| Monroe, LA | $168,606 | $1,206 | $944 | $-58 |
| Fort Polk South, LA | $162,266 | $1,153 | $909 | $-62 |
| Houma, LA | $186,622 | $1,305 | $1,045 | $-86 |
| Alexandria, LA | $171,604 | $1,176 | $961 | $-97 |
State median across the metros: $194,974 home, $1,305 rent, $-127/mo modeled cash flow.
Track your Louisiana rental portfolio
The Pro Portfolio Tracker rolls up every property in your portfolio, auto-revalues them monthly against local price data, and flags DSCR risk and equity milestones. Each Louisiana property carries the state-specific tax burden shown above through to the cash flow calculation.
Property tax rate: Tax Foundation. Security deposit rule: state statute. Verify current law before making decisions — statutes change and this page is a planning reference, not legal or tax advice.