Real Estate Investing in Carleton, Michigan (48117)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Monroe County • Population: 10,199 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 48117 (Carleton, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Carleton, MI (48117)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $344,620
Avg Monthly Rent $1,206
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,615
% Renters 13.0%

Market Analysis: 48117 Carleton

On the rental side, ZIP 48117 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $345K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $345K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 48117 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within MI, ZIP 48117 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Monroe County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 48117 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Carleton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,206/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Monroe, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
33 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Monroe, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 48117

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$88,969/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $214,317 $1,340 4.5% +8.1% $107,158
3BR $302,455 $1,620 3.9% +6.9% $100,818
4BR $355,875 $2,170 4.4% +6.4% $88,969

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$362K$312K$261K$211K$161K$111KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48117 Compare?

Metric 48117 Carleton Monroe, MI Michigan
Home Value $344,620 $344,620 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,206 $1,206 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48117? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 48117 (Carleton, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Monroe, MI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
0/2
33 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $344,620
Monthly Rent $1,206
Price-to-Rent 23.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48117

Population: 10,199

💰 Median Household Income
$75,615
This area
$75,615
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.0%
This area
13.0%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.0 years
This area
48.0 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.1%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.5%
This area
24.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 48117

C+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
19.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,363 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Airport Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
B Good

Joseph C Sterling Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
364 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
B Good

Loren Eyler Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
279 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
B Good

Wagar Middle School

📚 Grade 05 Elementary
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
B Good

Wagar Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
C Below Average

Airport Middle College

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
9 Students
💰
$13,363 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Airport Center for Education

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
60 Students
👨‍🏫
28.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,363 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

6 Nearby 549 Off-Campus Students
C
Monroe County Community College
2,250 students · 9.7 mi
C
Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe
100 students · 9.9 mi
D
Dorsey College-Woodhaven
212 students · 11.5 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Taylor
57 students · 12.9 mi
C+
Detroit Business Institute-Downriver
141 students · 13.9 mi
C
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School
53 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 549 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the renter demographic in Carleton, MI?

Tenant quality in Carleton, MI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $1,206/mo.

How high is vacancy risk in Carleton, MI?

Carleton, MI carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $1,206/mo.

How viable is house hacking in Carleton, MI?

The house hack math a challenging in Carleton, MI. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,206/mo rents and $345K home values.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Carleton, MI?

Carleton, MI falls under MI landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Does Carleton, MI make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Carleton, MI reflects its $345K prices and $1,206/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MI.

You know 48117 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 48117 ranks in Monroe, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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