The renter population has dominated Indiana Forest, consistently accounting for 91% to 97% of occupied housing units from 2013 to 2022. Average rent prices have exhibited volatility during this period. In 2013, the average rent was $1,183, peaking at $1,519 in 2016 before decreasing to $1,024 in 2022. This represents a 13.4% decrease in average rent from 2013 to 2022, despite the area's high renter occupancy. The fluctuation in rent prices may be influenced by changes in population density, which varied from a low of 15,619 people per square mile in 2015 to a high of 22,740 in 2020.

In 2023, the average home price in Indiana Forest reached $372,252, a slight increase from the previous year. However, 2024 has seen a minor correction, with average home prices dipping to $364,275. This slight decrease coincides with higher federal interest rates, which stood at 5.02% in 2023 and increased further to 5.33% in 2024. These higher rates may be contributing to the cooling of home prices in the neighborhood.

Looking ahead, predictive models suggest that average home prices in Indiana Forest may continue to experience moderate growth over the next five years, albeit at a slower pace than the rapid appreciation seen in the early 2020s. The high rental occupancy is expected to persist, potentially putting upward pressure on average rent prices, which may rebound from their recent decline and show steady increases in line with overall housing market trends and local economic factors.

In summary, Indiana Forest presents a unique housing market with extremely high renter occupancy and rapidly appreciating home values. The disconnect between low homeownership rates and rising home prices, coupled with fluctuating rent values, highlights the complex dynamics at play in this Columbus neighborhood. As interest rates remain elevated compared to the previous decade, it will be crucial to monitor how this impacts both the ownership landscape and the rental market in the coming years.