Is Kalamazoo County, MI good for real estate investing?

Kalamazoo County has an investment score of 64/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #340 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Kalamazoo?

The rent-to-price ratio in Kalamazoo County is 5.92% annually, which ranks in the 48th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Kalamazoo?

The median home price in Kalamazoo County is $263,226. This ranks #466 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Kalamazoo?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Kalamazoo County would generate negative cash flow of $536/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Kalamazoo County

MichiganPopulation: 261,426

/100

Buy

#340 of 1,000 counties

#49 in Michigan (83 counties)

Market Snapshot

$263,226

Median Home Price

4% below national median

$1,298/mo

Median Rent

13% below national median

5.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 52% nationally

-$536

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$263,226

Down Payment (20%)$52,645

Loan Amount$210,581

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,298

Monthly P&I-$1,380

Est. Expenses (35%)-$454

Net Cash Flow-$536/mo

3.9%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-10.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.9% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

59/100

Based on 5.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

78/100

Based on 2.8% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

72/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.9x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$536/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.9% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

261,426

Median Income

$67,905

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.9x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
KentMI	65	$335,851	$1,746	6.24%	Buy	View
MuskegonMI	65	$240,601	$1,225	6.11%	Buy	View
CurrentKalamazooMI	64	$263,226	$1,298	5.92%	Buy
OaklandMI	64	$353,204	$1,717	5.83%	Buy	View
BerrienMI	64	$262,819	$1,470	6.71%	Buy	View
Saint ClairMI	63	$246,890	$1,102	5.36%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyKalamazoo offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Kalamazoo County in Michigan scores 64/100, ranking #340 of 1,000 US counties (top 34%). The 5.92% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-536/mo

Cap Rate

3.9%

Cash-on-Cash

-10.6%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Kalamazoo?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$263,226

Down Payment (20%)$52,645

Loan Amount$210,581

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,298

Monthly P&I-$1,380

Est. Expenses (35%)-$454

Net Cash Flow-$536/mo

3.9%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-10.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.9% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

59/100

Based on 5.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

78/100

Based on 2.8% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

72/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.9x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

KentMI

$335,851

$1,746

6.24%

Buy

View

MuskegonMI

$240,601

$1,225

6.11%

Buy

View

CurrentKalamazooMI

$263,226

$1,298

5.92%

Buy

OaklandMI

$353,204

$1,717

5.83%

Buy

View

BerrienMI

$262,819

$1,470

6.71%

Buy

View

Saint ClairMI

$246,890

$1,102

5.36%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyKalamazoo offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-536/mo

Cap Rate

3.9%

Cash-on-Cash

-10.6%