Real Estate Investing in Willis, Michigan (48191)

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

Washtenaw County • Population: 4,253 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 48191 (Willis, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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 Willis, MI (48191)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $311,073
Avg Monthly Rent $1,575
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $102,784
% Renters 8.2%

Market Analysis: 48191 Willis

This part of Washtenaw County is not an easy win. The 48191 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 48191 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Willis have seen price recovery that 48191 has not matched. Washtenaw County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 48191 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 48191 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Willis:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,575/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
Ann Arbor, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
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 Ann Arbor, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 48191

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$93,402/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $244,034 $1,750 5.2% $122,017
3BR $280,206 $2,100 5.4% +3.3% $93,402
4BR $400,326 $2,340 4.2% +6.9% $100,082

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$332K$287K$241K$196K$150K$105KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48191 Compare?

Metric 48191 Willis Ann Arbor, MI Michigan
Home Value $311,073 $311,073 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,575 $1,575 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48191? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 48191 (Willis, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 48191 (Willis, MI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ann Arbor, MI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
39%
Days Pending
0/2
35 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $311,073
Monthly Rent $1,575
Price-to-Rent 16.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
5.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48191

Population: 4,253

💰 Median Household Income
$102,784
This area
$102,784
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.6 years
This area
48.6 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.2%
Other/Mixed 13.9%
Hispanic/Latino 8.5%
Black/African American 3.4%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 6,143 Off-Campus Students
C+
Eastern Michigan University
13,324 students · 9.6 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Ann Arbor
33 students · 10.5 mi
C
Washtenaw Community College
10,756 students · 11.2 mi
C
Concordia University Ann Arbor
1,351 students · 12.2 mi
D
MIAT College of Technology
1,645 students · 13.0 mi
A+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
52,065 students · 14.0 mi
D
Dorsey College-Wayne
203 students · 14.6 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Canton
90 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,143 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Willis, MI?

In Willis, MI the median home value sits at $311K. Against the broader MI market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How much do tenants pay in Willis, MI?

Expect rents around $1,575/mo per month in Willis, MI. With home values at $311K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Willis, MI?

House hacking in Willis, MI is a challenging. With home values around $311K and rents at $1,575/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Willis, MI?

For rental operators, Willis, MI rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is the tenant base reliable in Willis, MI?

The renter base in Willis, MI is reasonable for the $1,575/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

You know 48191 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 48191 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 48191 ranks in Ann Arbor, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 48191 (Willis)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 48191 (Willis, MI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.