Despite attempts from city officials to maintain a healthy inventory of affordable housing options in Detroit, many Motor City residents are devoting a larger share of their paychecks to rent payments than they were just a few years ago. That’s what financial tech company SmartAsset found in a recent report which compares household incomes to… Read more »
Detroit City Council Approves Fair Chance Housing Ordinance
Upon returning from prison, many ex-criminals who have successfully undergone rehabilitation struggle to find homes in Detroit because their rental applications are denied based solely on their past misdeeds. These individuals will soon have a better chance of finding new homes, however, thanks to a “Ban the Box” ordinance which was unanimously approved by the… Read more »
In 2018, Detroit’s Property Values Rose Across the Board
A citywide reassessment has revealed double-digit increases in property values throughout Detroit, according to Mayor Mike Duggan’s office. Commercial property values, for example, rose a whopping 35 percent between 2017 and 2018 to an overall value of $4.5 billion. Meanwhile, industrial property values in the city increased by 18 percent during the same period as… Read more »
Proposal 1 and Landlord, Tenant Rights in Michigan
Following the approval of Proposal 1 in November, Michigan has become the first state in the Midwest where residents can legally grow and use recreational marijuana. Under the terms of the new legislation, anyone age 21 and older can possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana on their person and have up to 12 plants… Read more »
Detroit Rent Prices are Rising but Remain Comparatively Affordable
Just a few years ago, an attractive rental price in Downtown Detroit was around $2 per square foot. Today, rental prices in the same neighborhoods are trending closer to $3 per foot, according to a recent market report published in Curbed Detroit. This report, which was conducted by Broder & Sachse Real Estate, found that… Read more »
Detroit May Require Annual Tenant Rosters From Landlords
In hopes of identifying income-tax evaders, Detroit officials are considering the passage of a new law which would compel landlords to hand over their tenant rosters to the city’s tax compliance branch each year. The proposed regulation would reportedly be focused on rental properties in Downtown and Midtown Detroit with monthly rental rates of $750… Read more »
Investigation Finds Uneven Lead Paint Enforcement in Detroit
Exposure to dust from deteriorating lead paint is becoming an increasingly pressing public health issue in Detroit, with lead poisoning cases among young children spiking by 28% in 2016. Lead poisoning tends to be particularly prevalent in the city’s low-income neighborhoods, where many older homes haven’t been renovated since lead-based paint was banned in the… Read more »
Mayor Duggan Announces $250 Million Affordable Housing Fund
Detroit city officials are employing new strategies in an effort to protect affordable housing availability in neighborhoods throughout the city. Earlier this year, for example, the director of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department announced that the city would offer special tax incentives to developers who include affordable housing units in their construction and rehab projects…. Read more »
Detroit Housing Values Increase for the First Time in 17 Years
City officials have been working hard to facilitate renewed growth in parts of Detroit that lay neglected for years, and the fruits of their labor may finally be starting to show. Historic neighborhoods are being revitalized by their residents, and developers are constructing new affordable housing options downtown. There’s still plenty of work to be… Read more »
A Brief Explanation of Legal Eviction Procedures in Michigan
Having to evict a tenant is a position that no landlord wants to be in, but that every landlord should be prepared for. In the event that you need to evict a client, it may be important for you to move fast in order to prevent further damage to your property. This means that you… Read more »