1st Advantage MortgageA DSCR loan in Shreveport turns on rent versus payment. Citywide medians from the Census are $987 a month for rent, $178,900 for home value and $1,201 a year for real estate taxes.
Local data for Shreveport investors
Citywide, Shreveport renters pay a median $987 in gross rent (rent plus utilities), close to the Louisiana median of $1,064, and owner-occupied homes have a median value of $178,900, about 17% below the Louisiana median of $216,500. Dividing a year of median rent by the median home value gives a gross rent-to-value ratio of 6.6%, neither especially thin nor especially rich. It mixes apartments and houses, so treat it as a compass and not as the number for any one property.
| Indicator | Louisiana | Shreveport | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 32.6% | 46.7% | +43% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.55% | 0.67% | +23% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $1,180 | $1,201 | +2% |
| Household income, median | $60,756 | $48,699 | -20% |
| Persons per household | 2.49 | 2.31 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 7.9% | 9.5% | +20% |
| Share of homes detached | 65.3% | 67.4% | +3% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 15.2% | 4.5% | -71% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 27.0% | 28.5% | +5% |
| Workers on their own account | 10.6% | 8.7% | -18% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 54.8% | 55.7% | +2% |
| Units sitting vacant | 14.4% | 15.6% | +8% |
| Typical construction year | 1983 | 1973 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 5.9% | 6.6% | +12% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 4,611,961 | 180,982 |
Roughly 46.7% of occupied housing in Shreveport is rented, well above the Louisiana median of 33%. Median household income of $48,699 (about 20% below the Louisiana median of $60,756) sets the ceiling for rent growth, and 56% of renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent.
Housing mix and age in Shreveport
Single-family detached housing accounts for 67% of the units counted in Shreveport, so expect house-style comparables in most appraisals. Homes here date to 1973 at the median, which is old enough to need system replacement but modern enough to avoid the worst surprises.
The Census counts 16% of Shreveport housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 10.0%.
What the data means for Shreveport buyers
At 6.6% gross, Shreveport is a middle-yield market, so ratios usually clear with a normal down payment and careful attention to insurance and taxes. With a 1973 median build year, the question for each property is when the roof and HVAC were last replaced. With about 47% of households renting, Shreveport has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.
Insurance, tax and flood context for Shreveport
In Shreveport the median tax bill for an owner-occupied home is $1,201, or about 0.67% of value (Louisiana overall: 0.55%). That bill is close to the Louisiana median of $1,180. Compared with annual median rent, the tax line is about 10%.
County-level hazard data from FEMA (National Risk Index 1.20) shows Caddo County with relatively moderate overall risk and ice storms (very high), strong wind (very high) and lightning (very high) at the top of the list.
| Hazard in Caddo County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Heat waves exposure | Relatively High |
| Lightning exposure | Very High |
| Strong wind exposure | Very High |
| Ice storms exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Very High |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Moderate |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
Flood risk in Shreveport is parcel by parcel: check the address on FEMA's flood map service, because a mapped high-risk zone means required flood cover and a heavier payment.
A worked DSCR test for Shreveport
The quick test for Shreveport: rent of $987 divided by a 1.25 ratio allows a total payment of $790, and subtracting $100 in monthly taxes leaves $690 for the loan, insurance and dues. At 1.00 the allowance is the full $887.
Legal checks before a Shreveport purchase
Rental registration, inspection and nightly-stay rules differ by city, and we have not verified Shreveport's from a municipal source. A short call to the city and Caddo Parish before you make an offer is cheap insurance. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Shreveport. 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.
Plan for a 30 day return window on any Shreveport deposit once the tenant moves out. 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.
Statewide comparison for Shreveport
Here is how Shreveport ($178,900) compares with other Louisiana cities we cover, where values run $205,900 in Houma up to $315,700 in New Orleans.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenner | 37% | $933 | $246,300 | 64,904 | $1,179 |
| New Orleans | 49% | $2,606 | $315,700 | 371,853 | $1,251 |
| Houma | 28% | $778 | $205,900 | 32,392 | $1,058 |
| Shreveport | 47% | $1,201 | $178,900 | 180,982 | $987 |
Workforce and demand drivers in Shreveport
Self-employed workers, incorporated or not, make up 8.7% of employed residents, a group that often has irregular tax-return income and a natural fit with rent-based qualification. On the workforce side, government workers are about 18% of employment, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Loyola College Prep, Centenary College of Louisiana, Louisiana State University in Shreveport and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport are the named colleges for the Shreveport area, a source of steady tenants but also of a lease cycle that follows the academic calendar. Wikipedia's entry for Shreveport notes interstate access via I-20 and I-49 and air service through Shreveport Regional Airport and Shreveport Downtown Airport, a practical point for tenants and owners alike.
From a Shreveport listing to a loan
Run the Shreveport rent, tax and insurance figures through the DSCR calculator. When they clear the ratio, start an application or ask for a quote.
More Louisiana markets
- All Louisiana DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Houma, LA
- DSCR loans in New Orleans, LA
- DSCR loans in Kenner, LA
- Every market we cover
References
- Shreveport landlords: see La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252, 9:3254
- State rule cited for Shreveport hosts: Louisiana Department of Revenue FAQ
- U.S. Census Bureau data for Shreveport
- FEMA county hazard table
- Encyclopedia entry for Shreveport
We took the Shreveport data from Census ACS five-year tables for 2020 to 2024, estimates with margins of error. For Louisiana tenant law we used RedFlagLease under CC BY 4.0 plus the linked statutes. Reviewed in October 2026, with no promise that rules have stayed put.
Pre-offer checklist
On a Shreveport purchase, line up the lease, the tax estimate, the insurance quote and any association dues before the appraisal is ordered, and ask the appraiser's office what rent comparables they plan to use.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent number goes into a Shreveport, LA DSCR calculation?
It comes from a lease or from the market rent in the appraisal, whichever the program uses. Against that, the Shreveport median is $987.
How is the DSCR figure built for a Shreveport property?
Taxes, insurance and dues are inside the payment the lender tests. Run $987 through a 1.25 ratio and the ceiling is about $790; subtract $100 for median taxes and $690 remains.
What tax bill should I expect on a Shreveport rental?
Typical owners pay $1,201, or 0.67% of home value, with Louisiana overall at 0.55%. Do not assume the seller's bill carries over to you.
Can nightly stays at a Shreveport property support a DSCR file?
Possible where lender guidelines allow it, subject to Shreveport and Caddo Parish rules and to the building's association. Lenders usually average a year of bookings and discount the result.
How much deposit can a Shreveport landlord collect?
Return is due within 30 days after the tenant leaves. The governing section is La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252, 9:3254.
What hazard risk does Shreveport carry for investors?
The county scores relatively moderate overall in FEMA's index, with ice storms leading. Parcel-level flood maps and a real insurance quote give the answer that counts.
Do I need an LLC to buy a rental in Shreveport?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Shreveport purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.