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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 49729 (Ellsworth, 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
4.7%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
1.9%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$1,246/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$329,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,280/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$15,360
Vacancy$768
Management$1,167
Property tax$2,441
Insurance$1,332
Maintenance$3,294
Net operating income$6,357
Loan payments$21,302
Cash flow-$14,945
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$329,432
Down payment (25%)$82,358
Loan$247,074
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$1,775
Cash in$92,241
Cash-on-cash return-16.2%
DSCR0.30
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
+5.7%
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
10010511011512012520222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$264,673
Aug 2022$300,182
Aug 2023$301,264
Aug 2024$306,150
Aug 2025$311,613
Aug 2026$329,432

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$890$990$1,280$1,570$1,810
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: Antrim County, MI.

Property tax

Effective rate
0.74%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$2,441/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Antrim County: 0.84%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
9.5
Antrim County, last 12 months
National percentile
70th
among US counties

105 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
49622Central Lake6.2 mi$356,000$1,250*4.2%-$1,458
49720Charlevoix8.4 mi$449,000$1,060*2.8%-$2,321
49727East Jordan9.1 mi$334,000$970*3.5%-$1,560
49648Kewadin11.7 mi$853,000$1,520*2.1%-$4,541
49712Boyne City14.1 mi$429,000$1,110*3.1%-$2,144
49615Bellaire14.2 mi$371,000$970*3.1%-$1,843
49670Northport16.3 mi$823,000$1,720*2.5%-$4,276
49674Northport16.6 mi$1,050,000$1,590*1.8%-$5,725

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

Every ZIP in Antrim CountyMichigan

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Open the calculator for 49729

Questions

Is 49729 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $329,000 and renting for $1,280 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 4.7% and the estimated cap rate is 1.9%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$1,246 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 49729?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 49729. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,280, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 49729?
The effective property tax rate is about 0.74% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $329,000 home that is about $2,441 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 49729 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 49729?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +5.7%.

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.