Real Estate Investing in Hope, Michigan (48628)

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

Midland County • Population: 1,920 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 48628 (Hope, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 24.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Hope, MI (48628)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $229,005
Avg Monthly Rent $1,305
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,333
% Renters 5.3%

Market Analysis: 48628 Hope

Investors eyeing 48628 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $229K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 48628 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 48628's metrics run below Midland County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 48628 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 48628 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 Hope:

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 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,305/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
Midland, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
23 days
Average time to sell
Fast
12.5%
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 Midland, MI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$240K$210K$181K$152K$122K$93KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48628 Compare?

Metric 48628 Hope Midland, MI Michigan
Home Value $229,005 $229,005 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,305 $1,305 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48628? 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 48628 (Hope, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Midland, MI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
0/2
23 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $229,005
Monthly Rent $1,305
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
24.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48628

Population: 1,920

💰 Median Household Income
$83,333
This area
$83,333
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.9 years
This area
46.9 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.5%
This area
24.5%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.5%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Black/African American 1.5%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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

2 Nearby
C
Ross Medical Education Center-Midland
36 students · 10.3 mi
C
Northwood University
2,360 students · 10.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hope, MI make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Hope, MI ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $229K and rents of $1,305/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Are there empty rentals in Hope, MI?

Vacancy in Hope, MI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,305/mo.

What strategy should investors use in Hope, MI?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Hope, MI best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $229K price point.

How viable is house hacking in Hope, MI?

The house hack math a challenging in Hope, MI. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,305/mo rents and $229K home values.

What is the typical rental rate in Hope, MI?

The typical rental in Hope, MI commands about $1,305/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $229K purchase basis.

You know 48628 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 48628 ranks in Midland, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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