Real Estate Investing in Lansing, Michigan (48906)

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

Ingham County • Population: 25,960 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 48906 (Lansing, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Lansing, MI (48906)?

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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 $171,275
Avg Monthly Rent $1,298
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,445
% Renters 34.6%

Market Analysis: 48906 Lansing

The 48906 ZIP covers a section of Lansing that demands careful diligence. Prices near $171K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,298/mo on a $171K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 48906 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within MI, ZIP 48906 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Ingham County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 48906 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 48906 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Lansing:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,298/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
Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
27 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.2%
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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 48906

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$56,293/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $77,358 $1,010 9.4% +7.2% $77,358
2BR $112,586 $1,270 8.1% +8.5% $56,293
3BR $193,517 $1,630 6.1% +7.5% $64,506
4BR $252,280 $1,680 4.8% +7.4% $63,070
5BR $286,453 +6.9% $57,291

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$180K$156K$131K$107K$83K$58KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,356$1,275$1,194$1,112$1,031$950Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 48906 Compare?

Metric 48906 Lansing Lansing-East Lansing, MI Michigan
Home Value $171,275 $171,795 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 5.7% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,298 $1,199 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.9% 5.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48906? 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 48906 (Lansing, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $171,275
Monthly Rent $1,298
Price-to-Rent 11.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.1%
Cap Rate 5.9%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +11.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.9%). 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
9.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48906

Population: 25,960

💰 Median Household Income
$57,445
This area
$57,445
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.2%
This area
27.2%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.6 years
This area
35.6 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.7%
Other/Mixed 15.3%
Black/African American 13.4%
Hispanic/Latino 7.1%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.3%
This area
17.3%
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 48906

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,622 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Cumberland School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,108 Per Student
A Very Good

Gier Park School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
327 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,108 Per Student
A Very Good

Sheridan Road

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,108 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MidMichigan Leadership Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
299 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,022 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Blended Learning Academies Credit Recovery High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
139 Students
👨‍🏫
27.8:1 Class Size
💰
$9,766 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 3,727 Off-Campus Students
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing
96 students · 3.1 mi
C
Great Lakes Christian College
130 students · 3.3 mi
C
Lansing Community College
9,207 students · 3.7 mi
D
Thomas M Cooley Law School
451 students · 4.1 mi
C
Douglas J Aveda Institute
822 students · 6.5 mi
B
Michigan State University
51,316 students · 6.8 mi
C
Protege Academy
68 students · 8.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,727 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lansing in MI worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Lansing, MI ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $171K and rents of $1,298/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Lansing, MI?

Vacancy in Lansing, MI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,298/mo.

How strong are rents in Lansing, MI?

Rents in Lansing, MI run near $1,298/mo. Compared with median home prices of $171K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

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

House hacking in Lansing, MI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $171K and rents of $1,298/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Lansing, MI good for landlords?

The landlord environment in Lansing, MI is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 48906 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 48906 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 48906 ranks in Lansing-East Lansing, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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