Real Estate Investing in Frankfort, Michigan (49635)

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

Benzie County • Population: 3,367 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 49635 (Frankfort, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 53.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 44.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Frankfort, MI (49635)?

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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 $528,952
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,911
% Renters 19.2%

Market Analysis: 49635 Frankfort

Investors eyeing 49635 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $529K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 49635 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Put differently, 49635 offers a low basis, the region around Frankfort has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Put differently, 3,367 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 49635 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 Frankfort:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Traverse City, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.4%
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 Traverse City, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 49635

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$154,685/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $464,054 $1,440 2.2% +11.2% $154,685
4BR $636,728 $1,560 1.8% +11.1% $159,182

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$554K$482K$409K$337K$264K$192KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49635 Compare?

Metric 49635 Frankfort Traverse City, MI Michigan
Home Value $528,952 $528,952 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.5% 1.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 49635? 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 49635 (Frankfort, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Traverse City, MI metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
1/2
50 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $528,952
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 44.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.3%
Cap Rate 1.5%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.5%). 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
53.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49635

Population: 3,367

💰 Median Household Income
$64,911
This area
$64,911
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.2%
This area
43.2%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
60.6 years
This area
60.6 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
53.9%
This area
53.9%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.0%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
Black/African American 2.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.2%
This area
40.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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

🎓 Schools in 49635

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$19,672 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Frankfort Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,672 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Frankfort High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,672 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Frankfort, MI?

Yes - Frankfort, MI a 3.0/5 investability score. With $529K home prices against $999/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How much do tenants pay in Frankfort, MI?

The typical rental in Frankfort, MI commands about $999/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $529K purchase basis.

Is Frankfort, MI landlord-friendly?

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

How tight is the rental market in Frankfort, MI?

Vacancy in Frankfort, MI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $999/mo.

Is Frankfort, MI good for house hacking?

Frankfort, MI offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $999/mo rent level.

You know 49635 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 49635 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 49635 ranks in Traverse City, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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