The story of this market
The typical home in Mecosta County, Michigan sells for about $262,000, or $169 per square foot.
Prices are up +6.9% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 48 days to sell. Over the long run, values in this county have grown 140% since 2000. Last year 8 of 12 neighborhoods saw prices rise, so the story isn't the same street to street. The biggest natural hazard here is strong wind, which FEMA rates very high. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,063 a month.
HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom at $1,063 a month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall hazard risk here as Relatively Moderate.
Price climate
Every year of price change, 2000–2025
+2.8%
2025
Each stripe is one year's median price change across the area's census tracts (FHFA repeat-sales index). Deep blue is a strong gain year, red a falling year. Best: 2022 (+16.4%). Worst: 2009 (-6%). Hover to read a year.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+4.5%
MI · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Rent benchmark
Fair market rent by size
$1,323
3-bed / month
HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal 2027, for this county. A typical rent for a modest unit, used to set housing-voucher payments.
Neighborhood price trend
Long-run price trend, 2000–2025
+2.8%
2025 change
FHFA repeat-sales index, median of 12 census tracts in this county (2000 = 100). Bars are each year's median change.
Natural hazard exposure
The area's risk shape
58
Relatively Moderate
FEMA National Risk Index. Each spoke is a hazard ranked nationally, where 100 is the most exposed. Expected annual loss: $23,740,418.
Mortgage activity
Home lending in this county
79.7%
2018 approval rate
| Year | Applications | Loans made | Approval | Investor share | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1688 | 1027 | 79.7% | 5% | $140,000 |
CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records: every mortgage application reported by lenders for homes in this county. Approval rate is approved ÷ decided (withdrawn and incomplete files excluded). Investor share and home value are the median census tract.
Mecosta County, Michigan
Mecosta County's housing market shows steady growth with a 6.9% year-over-year price increase, supported by a stable local economy anchored by Ferris State University. While inventory remains tight, the market is balanced by consistent demand and relatively affordable entry points compared to the state median. Current conditions reflect a resilient local market that is less volatile than larger urban centers.
No ARED distress-ledger coverage for this county yet — the foreclosure ingest rotates the national county directory, and filings appear here once the county's posted notices are read. Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the prior refresh cycle (within 12.5%).
Select a city to expand its ZIP intel reports beneath · 5 cities · 6 ZIP reports
Median prices moved up 6.9% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 48 days on market with 4.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
19% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.8% · poverty 15.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Mecosta County, Michigan — researched county-level history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
No researched properties in this county yet — the property base layer populates as property research runs, and each property feeds its ZIP's roll-up.
No researched ZIP reports yet — ZIP discovery runs with the county's first refresh, and each ZIP's intel report appears here once its research lands.
Crime rates in Mecosta County remain generally lower than the Michigan state average, with rural areas experiencing significantly fewer incidents than the more populated hubs near Big Rapids.
The county is served by several local districts, with Big Rapids Public Schools acting as the primary anchor; overall school quality is characterized as stable with a focus on community-integrated education.
The region faces standard Midwestern climate risks, primarily seasonal wind events and localized flooding near the Muskegon River; property insurance markets remain stable but sensitive to national reinsurance trends.
Economic momentum is driven by Ferris State University in Big Rapids, which serves as the primary employer and educational anchor, supporting a steady demand for local housing and services.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Michigan) — Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption: Provides an exemption from property taxes levied for school operating purposes and potentially other local taxes depending on eligibility. State (Michigan) — General Property Tax Act: Property is assessed at 50% of true cash value (State Equalized Value). Taxable value is capped at the lesser of the state equalized value or the previous year's taxable value adjusted by the consumer price index (up to 5%), unless a transfer of ownership occurs.
The economy is anchored by Ferris State University and a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and retail sectors centered in Big Rapids.
The county is served by US-131, providing a primary north-south corridor connecting the area to Grand Rapids and northern Michigan.
The Mecosta County Equalization Department oversees the assessment process, ensuring property valuations align with state-mandated market value standards.
The county includes various special assessment districts for fire protection, library services, and local road improvements.
Property insurance availability is stable, though premiums are influenced by regional weather patterns and the prevalence of older housing stock.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this county — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A major recreational artery offering fishing, kayaking, and scenic trails that define the county's outdoor lifestyle.
The county's primary cultural and economic anchor, hosting sports events, arts, and community programming.
A large private residential and recreational community featuring multiple golf courses, lakes, and beaches.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter and American Factbook profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
applies when — Real property owned and used as a homestead by a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse.
Provides an exemption from property taxes levied for school operating purposes and potentially other local taxes depending on eligibility.
MCL 211.7b
applies when — Transfer of interest in real estate consisting of not less than 1 or more than 4 residential dwelling units.
Sellers must provide a written disclosure statement to prospective buyers regarding the condition of the property, including known defects.
Seller Disclosure Act, Act 92 of 1993
applies when — Delinquency in real property tax payments.
A three-year forfeiture and foreclosure process. Property is forfeited to the county treasurer after two years of delinquency. If taxes remain unpaid by March 31 of the third year, the property is foreclosed upon by the Foreclosing Governmental Unit.
General Property Tax Act, Public Act 206 of 1893; MCL 211.78k
Property is assessed at 50% of true cash value (State Equalized Value). Taxable value is capped at the lesser of the state equalized value or the previous year's taxable value adjusted by the consumer price index (up to 5%), unless a transfer of ownership occurs. The tax is calculated by multiplying the taxable value by the local millage rate.
General Property Tax Act, Public Act 206 of 1893
Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.