Kent County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Kent County, MI
Kent County is centered on Grand Rapids and includes Wyoming, Kentwood, and Walker in West Michigan. Corewell Health, office-furniture makers, and food companies such as Meijer and Gordon Food Service support a steadily expanding apartment market.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Cities We Cover: Grand Rapids · Walker · Wyoming · Kentwood — County seat: Grand Rapids
Kent County
Where We Buy In Kent County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Kent County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Kent County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
If you plan to sell commercial property in Kent County, MI, start with the renter base behind the market. Kent County counts 76,166 renter households, 29.7% of its 256,648 occupied homes, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Grand Rapids holds 36,871 of those renter households, about 48.4% of the county total, and Wyoming, Walker and Kentwood add three more cities with established apartment stock.
Rent has moved fast. Kent County's median gross rent reached $1,243, up 38.3% from $899 in the 2015-2019 survey. Some 47,045 housing units, 17.5% of the county's stock, sit in buildings of five or more units, and rental vacancy runs 4.3%. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area is $1,630. Rents, vacancy and tax rules also shift city by city across Kent County.
A 663,000-person county
Kent County grew 2.3% to 663,150 residents between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Census surveys, adding 15,029 people.Rent up 38% in five years
Kent County's median gross rent rose from $899 to $1,243, a 38.3% gain, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.Grand Rapids holds half the renters
Grand Rapids counts 36,871 renter households, about 48.4% of Kent County's 76,166 total renter households.Who rents in Kent County
Renters head 76,166 of the 256,648 occupied households in Kent County, a 29.7% share in the 2020-2024 ACS. Owners outnumber them, holding 180,482 households. Grand Rapids carries the largest renter pool, with 36,871 renter households, about 48.4% of the Kent County total.
Kentwood and Wyoming follow with sizable renter bases of their own. Kentwood counts 8,212 renter households and a 38.7% renter share, while Wyoming holds 9,673 renter households at a 32.9% share. Walker, the smallest of the four cities in this table, counts 3,682 renter households.
Rents, growth and affordability
Kent County's median gross rent climbed 38.3%, from $899 to $1,243, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 surveys, a $344 gain. Population grew more slowly, up 2.3% to 663,150 residents, an increase of 15,029 people. Renter households rose 4.3%, adding 3,108 households over the same span.
Units in 5+ unit buildings in Kent County grew 11.0%, an increase of 4,667 units, helping explain a 4.3% rental vacancy rate. Rent burden is heavy: 49.0% of Kent County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent in the 2020-2024 ACS. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area is $1,630, running $387 above the county's median gross rent.
Household income kept pace with rent. Kent County's median household income reached $82,631, up 31.1% from $63,053, and employment grew 3.2% to 346,230 workers, an increase of 10,751 jobs.
City-by-city comparison
Grand Rapids anchors the apartment stock in Kent County, with 21.9% of its housing units in 5+ unit buildings and a 46.0% renter share. Kentwood runs the highest share of 5+ unit buildings in this table, at 31.6%, followed by Walker at 28.7%.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $1,266 | 46.0% | 21.9% | 4.4% |
| Walker | $1,202 | 34.8% | 28.7% | 3.3% |
| Wyoming | $1,196 | 32.9% | 22.6% | 2.0% |
| Kentwood | $1,260 | 38.7% | 31.6% | 4.2% |
Vacancy varies by city. Wyoming posts the lowest rate at 2.0%, while Walker runs 3.3% and Kentwood 4.2%, both close to the countywide 4.3% rate. Grand Rapids runs slightly higher at 4.4%. Rent ranges from $1,196 in Wyoming to $1,266 in Grand Rapids.
Property taxes and assessment in Kent County
Michigan assesses property at 50% of true cash value, and a parcel's taxable value in Kent County is capped each year at the lesser of a 5% increase or inflation, under MCL 211.27a. A sale resets that cap: taxable value uncaps to the state equalized value the following calendar year.
Kent County apartment buildings are assessed by the local city or township assessor, not by a single countywide office, so the exact millage depends on which Kent County city or township the parcel sits in. Grand Rapids, Walker, Wyoming and Kentwood each set their own total millage within the state's assessment framework.
Transfer tax applies to a Kent County sale: the state charges $3.75 per $500 of value under MCL 207.525, and Kent County, with a population under 2,000,000, adds $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.504. On a $1,000,000 sale, that comes to $7,500 state plus $1,100 county, or $8,600 total, paid by the seller within 15 days of delivery under MCL 207.523.
What this means if you sell in Kent County
When you sell commercial property in Kent County, MI, you sell into a renter base of 76,166 households, 29.7% of all occupied homes, with Grand Rapids holding about 48.4% of that pool. The county's 4.3% rental vacancy rate gives buyers a benchmark against your building's own occupancy history.
Taxes come next. Kent County's taxable value uncaps to market value the year after a sale, under MCL 211.27a, so buyers underwrite the post-sale bill rather than your current one. Rent control is not a factor: MCL 123.411 bars local ordinances that control rent amounts on private residential property statewide.
As a multifamily buyer in Kent County, we review 5+ unit buildings from Grand Rapids to Wyoming and Kentwood as they stand today. Send a current rent roll, a T-12 and the latest tax statement, and we will price the building on those numbers.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In Michigan
What we factor into every Kent County offer:
More about Michigan →- Taxable value uncaps to market value the year after a sale, under Michigan's MCL 211.27a.
- Rent control is barred statewide for private rentals under MCL 123.411, so market rents apply.
- Security deposits are capped at 1.5 months' rent and must sit in a regulated account, per MCL 554.602 and 554.604.
- Kent County rental vacancy runs 4.3%; compare that against your building's own occupancy before pricing.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Kent County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Kent County pay a median of $3,217 a year in property tax on a median home value of $289,900, an effective rate of about 1.11%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is below the Michigan statewide average of 1.19%.
How property tax works in Michigan: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Kent County building, check how Michigan reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Kent County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Selling A Building In Kent County
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Kent County Property
The Michigan rules that shape any deal in Kent County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Kent County
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Kent County Seller FAQ
How much has rent grown in Kent County, Michigan?
Median gross rent in Kent County rose from $899 in the 2015-2019 survey to $1,243 in 2020-2024, a 38.3% gain. Population grew 2.3% to 663,150 residents over the same period. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area is $1,630.
Does Kent County have rent control?
No. Michigan's MCL 123.411 bars local governments from adopting ordinances that control rent amounts on private residential property, with narrow carve-outs for city-owned housing. Kent County owners set rents by lease terms and market conditions, which buyers factor into their underwriting.
How is property assessed for tax purposes in Kent County?
Michigan assesses real property at 50% of true cash value. A parcel's taxable value is capped each year at the lesser of a 5% increase or inflation, but that cap resets to market value the year after a sale, under MCL 211.27a.
What should I know before I sell commercial property in Kent County, MI?
Review your rent roll against the county's 4.3% rental vacancy rate and 29.7% renter share. Expect the buyer to underwrite the post-sale tax bill, since taxable value uncaps to market value the year after a transfer, per MCL 211.27a.
How do I sell commercial property in Kent County, MI?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Kent County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Kent County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Kent County, including Grand Rapids, Walker, Wyoming, and Kentwood, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Kent County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Is it possible to sell rental property in Kent County without evicting tenants?
It is. We buy apartment buildings occupied, and tenants stay on their current leases. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit buildings, so occupied properties are the norm for us.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Kent County?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
How do property taxes factor into a Kent County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Grand Rapids), within Michigan rules. In Michigan, taxable value uncaps after a sale under Proposal A, which can raise property taxes significantly for the buyer. We model the post-sale tax bill before making an offer.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Kent County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
