Real Estate Investing in Grass Lake, Michigan (49240)

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

Jackson County • Population: 9,206 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 49240 (Grass Lake, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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

📈 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 Grass Lake, MI (49240)?

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

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $350,945
Avg Monthly Rent $1,314
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $92,097
% Renters 6.2%

Market Analysis: 49240 Grass Lake

ZIP 49240 inside Jackson County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $351K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 49240 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 49240 and stronger Grass Lake ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 49240 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Grass Lake:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,314/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
Jackson, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
30 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.4%
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 Jackson, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 49240

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$92,585/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $228,532 $1,460 4.6% +6.0% $114,266
3BR $335,618 $1,910 4.1% +6.8% $111,873
4BR $413,634 $2,030 3.5% +6.7% $103,409
5BR $462,926 +6.5% $92,585

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$370K$315K$261K$207K$152K$98KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49240 Compare?

Metric 49240 Grass Lake Jackson, MI Michigan
Home Value $350,945 $350,945 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,314 $1,314 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 49240? 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 49240 (Grass Lake, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 49240 (Grass Lake, MI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Jackson, MI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
45%
Days Pending
0/2
30 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $350,945
Monthly Rent $1,314
Price-to-Rent 22.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49240

Population: 9,206

💰 Median Household Income
$92,097
This area
$92,097
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.2%
This area
32.2%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.4 years
This area
44.4 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.1%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.5%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
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 49240

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$12,938 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

George Long Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,938 Per Student
B Good

Grass Lake Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
307 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,938 Per Student
B Good

Grass Lake High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,938 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

1 Nearby 661 Off-Campus Students
C
Jackson College
4,975 students · 13.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 661 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Grass Lake, MI?

Investors in Grass Lake, MI typically see rents near $1,314/mo per month against $351K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What are vacancy rates like in Grass Lake, MI?

Grass Lake, MI sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MI rental market.

What type of investing works in Grass Lake, MI?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Grass Lake, MI. With home values at $351K and rents near $1,314/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical renter like in Grass Lake, MI?

Tenant quality in Grass Lake, MI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,314/mo.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Grass Lake, MI?

MI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Grass Lake generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 49240 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 49240 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 49240 ranks in Jackson, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 49240 (Grass Lake)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 49240 (Grass Lake, MI).

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