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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 49445 (Muskegon, MI)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
5.8%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
2.5%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$999/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$302,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,460/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$17,520
Vacancy$876
Management$1,332
Property tax$3,442
Insurance$1,332
Maintenance$3,016
Net operating income$7,523
Loan payments$19,504
Cash flow-$11,982
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$301,626
Down payment (25%)$75,407
Loan$226,220
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$1,625
Cash in$84,455
Cash-on-cash return-14.2%
DSCR0.39
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$1,332 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for Michigan, $1,110, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+5.3%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
10011012013020222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$237,697
Aug 2022$266,975
Aug 2023$267,823
Aug 2024$281,480
Aug 2025$286,416
Aug 2026$301,626

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$1,020$1,110$1,460$1,760$1,930
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI MSA.

Property tax

Effective rate
1.14%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$3,442/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Muskegon County: 1.18%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
5.4
Muskegon County, last 12 months
National percentile
51th
among US counties

368 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
49440Muskegon4.3 mi$353,000$1,040*3.5%-$1,725
49461Whitehall6.1 mi$337,000$1,130*4.0%-$1,539
49441Roosevelt Park7.8 mi$260,000$1,3266.1%-$833
49457Twin Lake8.5 mi$285,000$1,260*5.3%-$1,051
49442Muskegon8.7 mi$186,000$1,1557.5%-$438
49444Norton Shores9.3 mi$194,000$1,3078.1%-$371
49437Montague12.7 mi$281,000$1,040*4.4%-$1,262
49415Fruitport13.3 mi$341,000$1,410*5.0%-$1,307

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Muskegon CountyMuskegon, MI metroMichigan

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The calculator opens with this ZIP's figures. Swap in a listing's price and rent, your rate and your costs.

Open the calculator for 49445

Questions

Is 49445 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $302,000 and renting for $1,460 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 5.8% and the estimated cap rate is 2.5%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$999 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 49445?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 49445. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,460, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 49445?
The effective property tax rate is about 1.14% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $302,000 home that is about $3,442 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 49445 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 49445?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +5.3%.

Sources and method

Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.

Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.