Real Estate Investing in Burton, Michigan (48509)

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

Genesee County • Population: 9,532 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 48509 (Burton, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (88/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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.

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

What’s happening in Burton, MI (48509)?

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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 $187,736
Avg Monthly Rent $1,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,125
% Renters 14.2%

Market Analysis: 48509 Burton

This part of Genesee County is not an easy win. The 48509 ZIP sits at 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 48509 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 48509 sits on the difficult end of the MI spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A solid renter share of 14% in 48509 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Burton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 48509. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Burton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,035/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
Flint, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
14.7%
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 Flint, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 48509

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$58,309/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $154,339 $1,150 5.4% +8.3% $77,169
3BR $188,641 $1,420 5.4% +8.1% $62,880
4BR $233,236 $1,670 5.2% +7.3% $58,309

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$200K$166K$132K$98K$63K$29KApr 2006Jun 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48509 Compare?

Metric 48509 Burton Flint, MI Michigan
Home Value $187,736 $158,418 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.5% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,035 $966 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48509? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 48509 (Burton, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Flint, MI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
44%
Days Pending
0/2
38 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $187,736
Monthly Rent $1,035
Price-to-Rent 15.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48509

Population: 9,532

💰 Median Household Income
$63,125
This area
$63,125
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.5 years
This area
44.5 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.5%
Other/Mixed 8.0%
Black/African American 6.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Asian 2.1%
👶 Under 18
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
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 48509

C+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
44.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,797 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Barhitte Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bentley Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
B Good

Bentley Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
149 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
B Good

Weston Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
451 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,576 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Flex High Burton

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
178 Students
👨‍🏫
28.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,703 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Bentley High School BOLD Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
17 Students
👨‍🏫
170.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Atherton Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
📍 3444 S GENESEE RD, BURTON
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,724 Per Student
A Very Good

Madison Academy High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
📍 3266 S GENESEE RD, BURTON
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
6.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,335 Per Student
A Very Good

Atherton Jr Sr High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 3354 S GENESEE RD, BURTON
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,724 Per Student
A Very Good

Potter School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 2500 N AVERILL AVE, FLINT
👥
185 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,207 Per Student
B Good

Kate Dowdall Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 3333 SHILLELAGH DR, FLINT
👥
391 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,576 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

7 Nearby 2,426 Off-Campus Students
C
Mott Community College
6,482 students · 3.4 mi
C+
University of Michigan-Flint
6,130 students · 4.3 mi
C
Ross Medical Education Center-Davison
39 students · 4.5 mi
C+
Kettering University
1,605 students · 5.5 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Flint
87 students · 7.9 mi
D
Sharp's Academy of Hairstyling
26 students · 8.0 mi
D
Creative Hair School of Cosmetology
48 students · 8.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,426 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Burton, MI?

The median home value in Burton, MI is roughly $188K. That puts it reasonable relative to the MI statewide average.

What is the renter demographic in Burton, MI?

Tenant quality in Burton, MI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,035/mo.

What is the best play in Burton, MI?

Burton, MI investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($188K prices, $1,035/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Burton, MI?

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

Does Burton, MI make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Burton, MI ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $188K and rents of $1,035/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 48509 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 48509 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 48509 ranks in Flint, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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