The story of this market
The typical home in Wexford County, Michigan sells for about $247,250, or $168 per square foot.
Prices are down 1.1% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 78 days to sell, which is slow. Over the long run, values in this county have grown 125% since 2000. Last year 5 of 8 neighborhoods saw prices rise, so the story isn't the same street to street. The biggest natural hazard here is winter weather, which FEMA rates very high. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,149 a month.
HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom at $1,149 a month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall hazard risk here as Relatively Moderate.
Price climate
Every year of price change, 2000–2025
+1.4%
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 (+17.8%). Worst: 2009 (-7.7%). 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
$1,412
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
+1.4%
2025 change
FHFA repeat-sales index, median of 8 census tracts in this county (2000 = 100). Bars are each year's median change.
Natural hazard exposure
The area's risk shape
42
Relatively Moderate
FEMA National Risk Index. Each spoke is a hazard ranked nationally, where 100 is the most exposed. Expected annual loss: $9,355,543.
Mortgage activity
Home lending in this county
74.6%
2018 approval rate
| Year | Applications | Loans made | Approval | Investor share | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1544 | 808 | 74.6% | 1.5% | $125,000 |
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 Approval rate is approved ÷ decided (withdrawn and incomplete files excluded).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.
Wexford County, Michigan
The Wexford County housing market is showing signs of stabilization with a slight year-over-year price adjustment. Inventory remains tight, which continues to support current price levels despite broader economic headwinds. Buyers are finding a competitive but balanced environment compared to the rapid appreciation seen in previous years.
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: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.
Select a city to expand its ZIP intel reports beneath · 4 cities · 4 ZIP reports
Median prices moved up 9.9% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 44 days on market with 3.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
25% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.9% · poverty 11.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this county — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched ZIP reports of 4 — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Wexford 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 7.3%/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.
researched Sep 22
researched Sep 22
researched Sep 22
researched Sep 22
| 49601 | Cadillac | $237,000 | $145 | +9.9% | 44 | 98.5% | 24.8% | 3.2 | 268 | $887 | researched Sep 22 |
| 49620 | Buckley | $159,400 | $145 | 0% | 64 | — | — | — | 27 | $1,105 | researched Sep 22 |
| 49663 | Manton | $235,942 | $145 | +2% | 87 | 97.5% | 12% | 5.2 | 42 | $864 | researched Sep 22 |
| 49665 | Mesick | $185,000 | $135 | +2.4% | 68 | 96.5% | 12% | 8.2 | 33 | $804 | researched Sep 22 |
Figures are each ZIP report's own latest research — the county roll-up aggregates them sales_count-weighted (population fallback); ZIPs cycle quarterly.
Crime rates in Wexford County generally track below national averages, with property crime being the primary concern in the county seat of Cadillac. Regional comparisons indicate a relatively safe environment typical of Northern Michigan rural and small-town settings.
Schools in Wexford County are primarily served by the Cadillac Area Public Schools and surrounding rural districts, which generally maintain average state performance ratings. The area is characterized by a focus on community-integrated education with moderate student-to-teacher ratios.
The county faces standard Northern Michigan climate risks, including heavy winter snowfall and occasional severe wind events. Flood risks are primarily localized to areas near the Manistee and Clam Rivers, with most residential properties outside of high-risk zones.
Economic momentum is anchored by manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism sectors centered in Cadillac. Infrastructure development is focused on maintaining regional highway connectivity and supporting small-scale commercial expansion.
Property taxes are assessed at the local township or city level based on the state-equalized value, with millage rates determined by local school districts and county government. Exemptions such as the Principal Residence Exemption are available for owner-occupied primary homes.
The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, including access to the Manistee National Forest, numerous inland lakes for fishing and boating, and groomed snowmobile and hiking trails. Cadillac serves as a hub for regional shopping and dining amenities.
The rental market is characterized by limited inventory and steady demand, particularly in the city of Cadillac. Vacancy rates remain low due to the lack of large-scale multi-family developments.
The economy is driven by a mix of manufacturing, healthcare services, and a robust tourism industry supported by the county's natural assets. Major employers include local healthcare providers and manufacturing firms in the Cadillac industrial parks.
The county is served by US-131 and M-115, which provide critical north-south and east-west connectivity. Public transit is limited, with most residents relying on personal vehicles for commuting.
The Wexford County Equalization Department oversees the assessment process, ensuring property values are adjusted annually to reflect market conditions in accordance with Michigan state law.
Parcels are subject to various special districts, including local school district millages, intermediate school district taxes, and occasional utility or fire protection assessments.
Property insurance premiums are generally stable, though homeowners in forested areas may face higher costs due to wildfire risk assessments.
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 central feature of the county seat, offering boating, fishing, and public parks that serve as a community gathering point.
Provides vast acreage for hunting, hiking, and camping, making the county a destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
A major multi-use rail-trail that runs through the county, popular for cycling, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau QuickFacts and Data Commons.
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 — 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
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
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.