North Dakota · Market guide

Hard money lender in Bismarck, ND

Bismarck, ND, North Dakota’s capital, has a median home value of $300,300 and a median gross rent of $999 a month — a 4.0% gross rent yield. 35% of homes are renter-occupied and the median home was built in 1985.

Bismarck at a glance

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
$300,300Median home value
$999/moMedian gross rent
4.0%Gross rent yield
35%Renter-occupied
1985Median year built
6%Vacancy rate
$78,387Median household income
75,556Population

What the numbers mean for investors

A price-led market

At a 4.0% gross rent yield, rents are low relative to prices ($999 rent vs. $300,300 value). Rentals here usually need more cash down to qualify for a DSCR loan, so value-add flips and lower-leverage holds tend to pencil better than high-leverage rentals.

Mid-age homes

With a median build year of 1985, most projects are cosmetic plus selective systems work (HVAC, water heaters, roofs at end of life). Budgets are more predictable than in older markets.

Owner-occupant buyers

Only 35% of homes are rented. Flips sell into a large owner-occupant buyer pool, but rental comps are thinner — get a rent survey before you underwrite a hold.

A typical Bismarck flip, by the numbers

To show how a hard money loan works in this market, here is an illustration built on Bismarck’s median values — not a quote. Assume you buy a distressed home at 75% of the median value, budget 15% of value for a renovation sized to the local housing age, and resell at the median.

Purchase price$225,225
Rehab budget$45,045
After-repair value$300,300
Loan (90% of purchase + 100% of rehab, max 75% of ARV)$225,225
Your cash in, before fees$45,045
Gross spread before financing and selling costs$30,030

A gross spread of 10% of ARV is thin once interest, points, holding and selling costs (often 10–15% of ARV combined) come out — in Bismarck the deal has to be bought well below this illustration. Run your own numbers in the fix & flip calculator.

Rentals and DSCR in Bismarck

At the median value, a 75% loan ($225,225) at 7.5% over 30 years costs about $1,575 a month in principal and interest. Median rent of $999 covers that 0.63 times before property taxes, insurance and any HOA — which lower the ratio further. Rent doesn’t cover the payment at this leverage, so rentals need a larger down payment or a below-median purchase price to qualify. Check a specific property with the DSCR calculator.

How Ambition Lending works with Bismarck investors

We are a direct, business-purpose lender that funds metropolitan, suburban and rural deals from $100,000 to multi-million balances: we underwrite the property, the budget and your exit — sell, refinance or hold — rather than your W-2. Fix & flip loans fund up to 90% of the purchase and 100% of the rehab through draws released after inspections; bridge loans go to 75% of value with no DSCR or DTI test. Send the address, purchase contract, scope of work and entity documents and we return a term sheet within 24 hours on most requests.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median home value in Bismarck, ND?

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Bismarck is $300,300, and median gross rent is $999 per month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates.

Is Bismarck a good market for rental property investors?

Bismarck's gross rent yield is about 4.0%, and 35% of homes are rented. Rents are low relative to prices, so rentals usually need more equity to qualify for a DSCR loan. Always underwrite the specific property and neighborhood.

How fast can a hard money loan close in Bismarck?

Ambition Lending issues a term sheet within 24 hours on most requests. Closing speed then depends on title, insurance and a complete file — investors who send the purchase contract, scope of work, entity documents and ID up front close fastest.

Methodology: figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the Census place of Bismarck, ND. Gross rent yield = 12 × median gross rent ÷ median home value. Examples are illustrations, not offers to lend; terms depend on the property, leverage and experience.

Buying in Bismarck? Get terms tomorrow.

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