Real Estate Investing in Waterford, Michigan (48329)

Oakland County • Population: 24,022 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 48329 (Waterford, MI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Waterford, MI (48329)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $297,082
Avg Monthly Rent $1,716
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,768
% Renters 11.0%

Market Analysis: 48329 Waterford

Investors eyeing 48329 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $297K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $297K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 48329 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 48329 among MI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A resilient renter share of 11% in 48329 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 48329 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Waterford:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,716/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
30 days
Average time to sell
Fast
9.8%
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 June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 48329

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$86,719/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $185,725 $1,370 5.3% +6.2% $185,725
2BR $209,536 $1,720 5.9% +6.9% $104,768
3BR $278,808 $2,100 5.4% +6.5% $92,936
4BR $346,874 $2,280 4.7% +6.2% $86,719
5BR $462,829 +6.0% $92,566

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$314K$266K$217K$169K$121K$73KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 48329 Compare?

Metric 48329 Waterford Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Michigan
Home Value $297,082 $279,418 N/A $253,279
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.4% N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $1,716 $1,421 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 48329? 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 48329 (Waterford, MI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Oakland County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Symmetry Management specializes in commercial real estate management. summary from their website

Commercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Beacon Management offers property management services for various communities and properties across Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Canton, and Southfield. summary from their website

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Great Day Realty is a real estate company. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $297,082
Monthly Rent $1,716
Price-to-Rent 14.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 48329

Population: 24,022

💰 Median Household Income
$86,768
This area
$86,768
State
$68,013
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
19.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-2.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.1%
This area
29.1%
State
16.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
36.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.4%
Other/Mixed 7.9%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
Asian 1.9%
Black/African American 1.8%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
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 48329

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
15.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,413 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cooley Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
A Very Good

Mason Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
729 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
A Very Good

Schoolcraft Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Grayson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pierce Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
742 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kingsley Montgomery School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
36 Students
👨‍🏫
3.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Waterford Kettering High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,093 Per Student
B Good

Waterford Montessori Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,651 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

North Sashabaw Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 5290 MAYBEE RD, CLARKSTON
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,219 Per Student
A Very Good

Clarkston Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6589 WALDON RD, CLARKSTON
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,219 Per Student
A Very Good

Pine Knob Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6020 SASHABAW RD, CLARKSTON
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,219 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Renaissance Virtual School

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 6558 WALDON RD, CLARKSTON
👥
63 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,219 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Clarkston Junior High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 6595 WALDON RD, CLARKSTON
👥
982 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,219 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

8 Nearby 7,973 Off-Campus Students
C
Marketti Academy of Cosmetology
45 students · 0.8 mi
C
Port Huron Cosmetology College
52 students · 1.0 mi
C+
D&S School of Cosmetology
3 students · 3.5 mi
B
Oakland University
15,922 students · 8.8 mi
C
Oakland Community College
13,831 students · 8.8 mi
C
Cranbrook Academy of Art
119 students · 10.8 mi
C
Rochester University
1,173 students · 12.5 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills
105 students · 13.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,973 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What approach is best for Waterford, MI real estate?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Waterford, MI. With home values at $297K and rents near $1,716/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

How strong is the working-renter base in Waterford, MI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Waterford, MI. The rental market absorbs $1,716/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Waterford, MI?

Vacancy risk in Waterford, MI is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are landlord laws favorable in Waterford, MI?

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

What kind of market is Waterford, MI for investors?

Waterford, MI sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $297K and average rents around $1,716/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.

See what 48329 really looks like for investors

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