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Investor-friendly real estate agents in Dearborn, MI
We match investors with vetted Dearborn-area agents who own rentals, run the numbers, and know the local rules. Free for investors.
Get matched in DearbornVetted investor agents across the Dearborn metro
Dearborn sits on Detroit's western border and is home to Ford's headquarters and engineering campus. For investors it's a steadier, pricier market than the City of Detroit, with mostly single-family neighborhoods. Two local rules shape the math. Every non-owner-occupied home has to be registered with the city, inspected and hold a current Certificate of Occupancy. And since January 1, 2026, short-term rentals are allowed only in designated parts of East and West Downtown, not in residential neighborhoods. The figures on this page cover the whole Detroit metro. Our vetted agent partner covers southeast Michigan, including Dearborn.
Rental purchases with a Keller Williams agent licensed since 2013 who covers southeast Michigan, including Dearborn. Long-term rentals are the realistic play here, since Dearborn now confines short-term rentals to parts of its downtowns.
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Is Dearborn worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,293,314 |
| 2011 | 4,301,802 |
| 2012 | 4,319,292 |
| 2013 | 4,332,304 |
| 2014 | 4,346,166 |
| 2015 | 4,352,979 |
| 2016 | 4,368,028 |
| 2017 | 4,381,658 |
| 2018 | 4,391,185 |
| 2019 | 4,394,892 |
| 2020 | 4,385,353 |
| 2021 | 4,370,695 |
| 2022 | 4,354,135 |
| 2023 | 4,356,818 |
| 2024 | 4,377,045 |
| 2025 | 4,390,913 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | -22,660 |
| 2012 | -14,856 |
| 2013 | -18,147 |
| 2014 | -18,462 |
| 2015 | -22,412 |
| 2016 | -18,936 |
| 2017 | -14,912 |
| 2018 | -14,102 |
| 2019 | -16,678 |
| 2020 | -22,959 |
| 2021 | -18,924 |
| 2022 | -28,418 |
| 2023 | -22,883 |
| 2024 | -11,880 |
| 2025 | -5,850 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,738,800 |
| 2011 | 1,788,200 |
| 2012 | 1,836,000 |
| 2013 | 1,870,300 |
| 2014 | 1,901,200 |
| 2015 | 1,939,700 |
| 2016 | 1,978,300 |
| 2017 | 2,009,500 |
| 2018 | 2,034,800 |
| 2019 | 2,045,400 |
| 2020 | 1,848,300 |
| 2021 | 1,930,900 |
| 2022 | 2,013,300 |
| 2023 | 2,045,600 |
| 2024 | 2,051,900 |
| 2025 | 2,039,400 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $875/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $905/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $952/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $987/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,032/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,112/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,246/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,310/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,354/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,421/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,457/mo |
| Sep 2026 | $1,514/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $85,804 |
| Dec 2011 | $80,503 |
| Dec 2012 | $88,505 |
| Dec 2013 | $109,574 |
| Dec 2014 | $121,913 |
| Dec 2015 | $132,710 |
| Dec 2016 | $143,955 |
| Dec 2017 | $157,368 |
| Dec 2018 | $169,025 |
| Dec 2019 | $178,832 |
| Dec 2020 | $194,298 |
| Dec 2021 | $216,609 |
| Dec 2022 | $231,464 |
| Dec 2023 | $241,927 |
| Dec 2024 | $252,935 |
| Dec 2025 | $261,751 |
| Sep 2026 | $264,316 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 12.6× |
| Dec 2016 | 13.3× |
| Dec 2017 | 13.8× |
| Dec 2018 | 14.3× |
| Dec 2019 | 14.4× |
| Dec 2020 | 14.6× |
| Dec 2021 | 14.5× |
| Dec 2022 | 14.7× |
| Dec 2023 | 14.9× |
| Dec 2024 | 14.8× |
| Dec 2025 | 15.0× |
| Sep 2026 | 14.5× |
Data retrieved October 16, 2026. Figures cover the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Dearborn
Zillow Home Value Index, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro, Sep 2026 (+1.8% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Sep 2026 (+4.2% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +1.8%, rents +4.2%.
Michigan landlord-tenant basics, plus Dearborn's rental rules
Michigan's security deposit act (MCL 554.601 and following) and the summary proceedings statute (MCL 600.5714) cover most of what investors ask about. Dearborn adds registration and inspections:
- Security deposit: capped at 1.5 months' rent (MCL 554.602). Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, mail the tenant an itemized list of damages with a check for any balance (MCL 554.609).
- Inventory checklists: give the tenant two blank move-in checklists; they have 7 days to return one. At move-out, complete a checklist listing the damages you claim (MCL 554.608).
- Nonpayment: serve a 7-day demand for possession (court form DC 100a). If the tenant hasn't paid or moved out after 7 days, you can file in district court (MCL 600.5714).
- No rent control: MCL 123.411 bars cities, villages, townships and counties from controlling private rents.
- New in 2025: since April 2, 2025, Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act bars turning down tenants because of their source of income, including Housing Choice Vouchers, Social Security, veterans' benefits and child support.
- Dearborn: every non-owner-occupied home must be enrolled in the city's rental program, inspected for minimum housing standards and hold a current Certificate of Occupancy. Certificates expire 3 years from the first inspection. The inspection is the same one required when a home is sold.
- Property taxes: rentals don't get Michigan's principal residence exemption, so they pay the local school operating tax (up to 18 mills) that owner-occupied homes don't.
Short-term rental rules in Dearborn
Dearborn's city council voted in July 2025 to limit rentals of less than 30 days to designated parts of East and West Downtown. The rules took effect January 1, 2026:
- Short-term rentals are prohibited in Dearborn's single-family residential neighborhoods. Don't buy a house in a residential zone expecting to run it as an Airbnb.
- Inside the allowed downtown areas, check the city's current licensing requirements and fees with the Economic Development Department before you buy.
- Property owners filed a federal lawsuit challenging the restrictions in early 2026. Until a court rules otherwise, assume the restrictions apply.
- Michigan's 6% use tax applies to rooms and lodging rented for a month or less. Platforms collect it on their bookings; direct bookings are on you.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Detroit metro; MCL 554.602 — Security deposit limit; MCL 554.608 — Inventory checklists; MCL 554.609 — Itemized list of damages; MCL 123.411 — Local rent control prohibited; Michigan courts — Demand for possession, nonpayment of rent (DC 100a); Fair Housing Center of Michigan — Source of income protections added to state law (2025); Michigan Treasury — Principal residence exemption; Michigan Treasury — Use tax; City of Dearborn — Registering rental property; City of Dearborn — Rental property information; Hoodline — Dearborn council restricts short-term rentals to downtown areas (2025); CBS Detroit — Dearborn council approves ordinance on short-term rentals; CBS Detroit — Property owners sue Dearborn over short-term rental restrictions.
Before you make an offer on a rental property, you need more than a gut feeling. Here is the step-by-step framework serious investors use to stress-test a deal on paper first.
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Next door, same metro and Michigan law; cheaper, older stock and its own rent escrow rules.
About 85 miles west: a state-capital market with lower prices and three vetted agents.
About 30 miles west on I-94: a university market under the same Michigan law.
Questions investors ask about Dearborn
Who will I work with in Dearborn?
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Our vetted agent partner is a Keller Williams agent licensed since 2013 who covers southeast Michigan, including Dearborn. She's based in Ann Arbor. Tell us your strategy, budget and target area and we'll match you.
Can I run an Airbnb in Dearborn?
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Only in designated parts of East and West Downtown. Since January 1, 2026, rentals of less than 30 days are prohibited in Dearborn's single-family neighborhoods. Property owners have sued the city over the rules, but plan as if they apply.
Do I need a permit to rent out a house in Dearborn?
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Yes. Non-owner-occupied homes must be enrolled in the city's rental program, pass an inspection for minimum housing standards and hold a current Certificate of Occupancy, which expires 3 years from the first inspection.
Is Dearborn a good market for cash flow?
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Usually not at median prices. Detroit-metro rent-to-price is about 0.57% a month, and Dearborn's stable neighborhoods rarely sell at a discount. Investors buy here for tenant demand and stability, so underwrite carefully with the real non-homestead tax bill.
Is Michigan landlord-friendly?
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Mostly. Deposits are capped at 1.5 months' rent, nonpayment cases start with a 7-day demand for possession, and cities can't impose rent control. Since April 2025, landlords can't turn down tenants because they pay with a voucher or other benefits.
What does it cost to get matched with a Dearborn-area agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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