Real Estate Investing in Iron Mountain, Michigan (49801)

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

Dickinson County • Population: 11,606 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 49801 (Iron Mountain, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Iron Mountain, MI (49801)?

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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 $197,047
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,034
% Renters 16.6%

Market Analysis: 49801 Iron Mountain

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Iron Mountain's 49801 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $197K pricing implies.

The 49801 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 49801 and stronger Iron Mountain ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 49801 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 49801 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Iron Mountain:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Iron Mountain, MI-WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.6%
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 Iron Mountain, MI-WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 49801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$60,695/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $131,399 $970 5.3% +8.3% $65,699
3BR $195,605 $1,180 4.3% +8.0% $65,202
4BR $242,780 $1,640 4.9% +8.8% $60,695

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$207K$182K$156K$131K$106K$81KApr 2013Dec 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 49801 Compare?

Metric 49801 Iron Mountain Iron Mountain, MI-WI Michigan
Home Value $197,047 $197,047 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 49801? 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 49801 (Iron Mountain, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $197,047
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 18.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
8.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 49801

Population: 11,606

💰 Median Household Income
$57,034
This area
$57,034
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.2%
This area
26.2%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.7 years
This area
47.7 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
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 49801

C+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
19.0:1 Avg Class Size
$13,672 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

North Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,672 Per Student
B Good

East Elementary School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
100 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,672 Per Student
C+ Average

Iron Mountain High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,672 Per Student
C+ Average

Central Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
94 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,672 Per Student
C Below Average

IMK Community Education

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
106 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,672 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

What is the renter demographic in Iron Mountain, MI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Iron Mountain, MI. The rental market absorbs $873/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is rental property easy to operate in Iron Mountain, MI?

For rental operators, Iron Mountain, MI rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How expensive is real estate in Iron Mountain, MI?

Typical homes in Iron Mountain, MI go for around $197K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Iron Mountain, MI?

Iron Mountain, MI sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MI rental market.

How viable is house hacking in Iron Mountain, MI?

House hacking works a challenging in Iron Mountain, MI. Rents of $873/mo against $197K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 49801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 49801 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 49801 ranks in Iron Mountain, MI-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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