Real Estate Investing in Rothbury, Michigan (49452)

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

Oceana County • Population: 2,299 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 49452 (Rothbury, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.0% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Rothbury, MI (49452)?

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

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $210,318
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,536
% Renters 8.9%

Market Analysis: 49452 Rothbury

This part of Oceana County is not an easy win. The 49452 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 49452 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $210K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 49452 among MI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 49452 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Rothbury's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 49452. 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 Rothbury:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$221K$192K$162K$133K$104K$75KFeb 2008May 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49452 Compare?

Metric 49452 Rothbury Michigan
Home Value $210,318 $210,318 $253,279
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% 6.8%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 49452? 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 49452 (Rothbury, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 49452 (Rothbury, MI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,318
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 20.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49452

Population: 2,299

💰 Median Household Income
$55,536
This area
$55,536
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.2 years
This area
38.2 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.6%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Black/African American 0.1%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
28.2%
This area
28.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rothbury, MI better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Rothbury, MI, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How strong is the working-renter base in Rothbury, MI?

Tenant demand in Rothbury, MI is solid. The local workforce $873/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is rental property easy to operate in Rothbury, MI?

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

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Rothbury, MI?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Rothbury, MI reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Where do home prices stand in Rothbury, MI?

Rothbury, MI home values average about $210K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $873/mo in monthly income.

You know 49452 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 49452 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
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 49452 (Rothbury)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 49452 (Rothbury, MI).

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