Real Estate Investing in Ypsilanti, Michigan (48198)

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

Washtenaw County • Population: 39,507 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 48198 (Ypsilanti, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (83/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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.

What’s happening in Ypsilanti, MI (48198)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $228,065
Avg Monthly Rent $1,650
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,479
% Renters 41.8%

Local Pulse Report

AI-researched developments and news for Ypsilanti, MI (48198). Updated on demand as visitors ask.

✨ AI + Web Search
Local news & events in Ypsilanti, MI (48198) Updated 111 days ago
Ypsilanti has seen ongoing efforts in environmental cleanup and community events, alongside persistent concerns regarding crime and housing conditions.
Opportunities
  • Ypsilanti City Council applied for a $1.89 million EPA grant in January 2026 for PCB remediation in the Water Street Redevelopment Area. — This initiates cleanup of a long-standing environmental hazard, improving public health and enabling future development. The Eastern Echo
  • The Dorsey Estates, a new housing community, was named in honor of Ypsilanti's first Black councilwoman, Mattie Dorsey. — This expands housing options and recognizes significant local historical figures. ClickOnDetroit
  • Ypsilanti hosts diverse community events, including festivals, art shows, and farmers markets, throughout the year. — These events offer varied opportunities for recreation, cultural engagement, and social interaction.
  • Ypsilanti Township is offering Youth Summer Baseball Leagues with a registration deadline of May 31st. — This provides organized recreational activities for youth, promoting health and community involvement. Ypsilanti Township
Concerns
  • Residents of Arbor One apartments in Ypsilanti reported deplorable living conditions, including lack of heat, sewage issues, and mold, leading to condemnation of 18 buildings between December 2024 and February 2025. — These conditions impose significant health risks and financial burdens on residents, restricting safe housing choices. FOX 2 Detroit, CBS Detroit
  • A large pile of a coal-like substance on an Ypsilanti Township commercial property has raised environmental concerns due to high levels of toxic substances found in nearby storm drains in March 2024. — This poses a potential health hazard to the community and environment, incurring unconsented costs for remediation. WEMU.org
  • Multiple violent crimes, including shootings, robberies, and assaults, have been reported across Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township in the past year. — These incidents create an unsafe environment, limiting residents' freedom and security.
  • Federal funding cuts impacted Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels in April 2025, leading to uncertain times for the service. — This may reduce access to essential services for vulnerable residents, limiting their support options. CBS Detroit
Bottom line: Ypsilanti is actively addressing environmental contamination and fostering community engagement, but faces ongoing challenges with crime and substandard housing conditions.

AI-generated from public web sources. Always verify with official records. Not financial, legal, or investment advice.

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 Ypsilanti:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,650/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 48198

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$71,378/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $189,228 $1,340 5.1% +7.5% $94,614
3BR $214,133 $1,610 5.4% +6.8% $71,378
4BR $337,427 $1,770 3.8% +6.6% $84,357
5BR $479,812 +6.2% $95,962

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$249K$208K$167K$127K$86K$45KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,732$1,648$1,564$1,480$1,396$1,312Sep 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48198 Compare?

Metric 48198 Ypsilanti Ann Arbor, MI Michigan
Home Value $228,065 $289,372 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.2% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,650 $1,495 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.6% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48198? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 48198 (Ypsilanti, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
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 $228,065
Monthly Rent $1,650
Price-to-Rent 11.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.7%
Cap Rate 5.6%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.6%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48198

Population: 39,507

💰 Median Household Income
$58,479
This area
$58,479
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.8%
This area
41.8%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.2%
This area
31.2%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.1 years
This area
34.1 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 51.0%
Black/African American 34.2%
Other/Mixed 13.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
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 48198

A Avg School Grade
10 Schools
12.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,631 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Erickson Elementary

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Holmes Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
246 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ypsilanti Community Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ypsilanti International Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ford Early Learning Center

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
195 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

YPSI Connected Community School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
102 Students
👨‍🏫
7.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rawsonville Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,847 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ACCE

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
157 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,779 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Global Tech Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,172 Per Student
B Good

South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,833 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

8 Nearby 6,143 Off-Campus Students
C+
Eastern Michigan University
13,324 students · 2.6 mi
C
Washtenaw Community College
10,756 students · 4.0 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Ann Arbor
33 students · 4.3 mi
C
Concordia University Ann Arbor
1,351 students · 4.8 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Canton
90 students · 6.4 mi
D
MIAT College of Technology
1,645 students · 7.3 mi
C
L'esprit Academy
273 students · 7.4 mi
A+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
52,065 students · 7.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Ypsilanti, MI for investors?

Ypsilanti, MI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $228K and rents near $1,650/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What type of investing works in Ypsilanti, MI?

In Ypsilanti, MI the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $228K prices and $1,650/mo rents suits that approach.

How strict are landlord regulations in Ypsilanti, MI?

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

Is the tenant base reliable in Ypsilanti, MI?

Tenant quality in Ypsilanti, MI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,650/mo.

What are vacancy rates like in Ypsilanti, MI?

Vacancy risk in Ypsilanti, MI is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

You know 48198 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 48198 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.

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How 48198 ranks in Ann Arbor, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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