Real Estate Investing in Kingsley, Michigan (49649)

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

Grand Traverse County • Population: 7,293 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 49649 (Kingsley, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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: 14.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.6 — 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 Kingsley, MI (49649)?

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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 $354,537
Avg Monthly Rent $1,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,124
% Renters 13.9%

Market Analysis: 49649 Kingsley

ZIP 49649 in Kingsley, MI carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $355K and rents of $1,035/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 49649 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $355K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 49649's metrics run below Grand Traverse County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 49649 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.

The right play in 49649 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 Kingsley:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,035/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
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 49649

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$96,255/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $271,143 $1,150 3.1% +9.4% $135,571
3BR $327,167 $1,480 3.3% +9.1% $109,056
4BR $385,021 $1,540 2.9% +9.2% $96,255

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$376K$315K$253K$192K$131K$70KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49649 Compare?

Metric 49649 Kingsley Traverse City, MI Michigan
Home Value $354,537 $354,537 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,035 $1,035 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 49649? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 49649 (Kingsley, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 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 $354,537
Monthly Rent $1,035
Price-to-Rent 28.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
14.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49649

Population: 7,293

💰 Median Household Income
$69,124
This area
$69,124
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.1 years
This area
37.1 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.9%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
29.0%
This area
29.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 49649

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.5:1 Avg Class Size
$12,258 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Kingsley Area Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
544 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,258 Per Student
B Good

Kingsley Area High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,258 Per Student
B Good

Kingsley Area Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
483 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,258 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 541 Off-Campus Students
C+
Northwestern Michigan College
3,146 students · 13.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 541 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Kingsley, MI. The numbers - $355K homes against $1,035/mo rents - support that play.

What do landlords charge for rent in Kingsley, MI?

Investors in Kingsley, MI typically see rents near $1,035/mo per month against $355K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is it like being a landlord in Kingsley, MI?

Landlord-friendliness in Kingsley, MI is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How deep is the rental pool in Kingsley, MI?

Kingsley, MI draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,035/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Kingsley, MI a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Kingsley, MI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $355K and rents near $1,035/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 49649 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 49649 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 49649 ranks in Traverse City, MI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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