Deep Dive into Metro Detroit Cities: Harper Woods

With 185 cities and 290 neighborhoods making up the metropolitan area, navigating the Detroit market can feel overwhelming, especially for out-of-state or international investors.

That’s where our exclusive Deep Dive series comes in.

Our goal? To break down each neighborhood in the City of Detroit and beyond—city by city, neighborhood by neighborhood—to help you pinpoint the areas with the best rental investment potential.

Today, we’re putting Harper Woods in the spotlight.

Before diving into the data, we hit the streets to give you a firsthand look at what Harper Woods has to offer:

What You’ll Learn in This Deep Dive

Whether you're a first-time investor or looking to expand your portfolio, we’ve gathered key insights on Harper Woods that can help guide your investment decisions.

Here’s what you can expect from this analysis:

• Home Sale Trends – Discover how the housing market has been performing in Harper Woods and what that means for buying opportunities.
• Rental Market Trends – Learn what landlords are charging and what renters are paying in this city.
• Properties on the Market Today – See what’s currently available and get a snapshot of the area's housing inventory.
• Renter Demographics – Gain insights into the types of tenants calling Harper Woods home.
• Neighborhood Livability – Understand factors like schools, amenities, and commute times that impact tenant satisfaction.
• Our Hotspot Recommendations – We’ll even pinpoint specific streets or pockets where rental properties are most likely to deliver strong ROI. 🚀

Compare and Contrast

Thinking of other investment areas?

Harper Woods is just one piece of the puzzle.

To broaden your options, we’ve already covered various neighborhoods across Detroit and its surrounding cities. Be sure to explore our other Deep Dives so you can compare Harper Woods to other promising location:

nterested in an area that’s not listed here? Please let us know! We’d be happy to share our data with you, and we’re always open to suggestions on which neighborhood to cover next.

Stay tuned as we break down everything you need to know about Harper Woods.

Overview

Located at the edge of Wayne County, Harper Woods sits next to Detroit and the sought-after lakeside Grosse Pointe neighborhoods.

Source: Google Maps

Known as a "Ring City," Harper Woods blends Detroit’s convenience with perks like affordable properties, strong rental demand, and a better quality of life—making it a hotspot for rental investors.

These fast facts about the city highlight its growing appeal:

• Affordable Properties: Average sale price of $101K in 2021.
• High Cash Flow Potential: Average rent-to-price (RTP) ratio of 1.32%.
• Tenant Appeal: Popular for its trendy vibe and accessibility.

Harper Woods has been on the rise, driven by investments including a new high school, modern apartment developments, and a major commercial-industrial project replacing the old Eastland Center Mall.

Back in January 2021, we rated Harper Woods a “B” for its affordability, cash flow, and tenant appeal—predicting its popularity would grow as residents were priced out of nearby areas like East English Village and Eastpointe.

Now, with revitalization in full swing, it’s time to revisit Harper Woods and see if it’s living up to its potential for investors.

Housing Market Analysis

First, we’re going to look at property prices and rent trends.

Sale Trends

By February 2025, Harper Woods' average home value has reached $152,192—nearly triple its value from less than a decade ago.

Source: Zillow

Within this average, there’s notable variation between neighborhoods. Properties near the Grosse Pointes are nearing the $200K range, while the southwest still offers opportunities with homes priced around $100K or even less.

Want more info on specific investment opportunities in Harper Woods, Detroit, or Michigan? for a free consultation.

Rent Trends

The average monthly rent in Harper Woods was $1,240/month in 2021, but as of February 2025, it’s up to $1,350/month:

Source: Niche.com and Zillow.com

Harper Woods offers plenty of opportunities for investors to meet the 1% rule. According to Niche.com, 56% of homes are priced between $100K–$200K, while 76% of rentals fall within the $1,000–$2,000 range.

Even better, 27% of properties are still valued under $100K, making this area a prime target for budget-conscious investors.

Now let’s look at what’s on the market currently.

Investment Opportunities

At the time of writing in February 2025, Harper Woods has 58 homes for sale but only 27 rentals available:

This highlights the high demand for rental properties in the area—anything promising on the market gets snapped up quickly.

Example Investment Properties

To give you a clearer picture, we’ll now take a closer look at two properties currently for sale at different price points, showcasing the variety of investment opportunities available in this city.

1. The Turnkey Rental

This compact 2-bedroom house, located near the Detroit border, is a rent-ready rental ideal for first-time investors.

While properties in this area of Harper Woods see smaller equity gains compared to others, it’s a solid entry-level investment under $100K with excellent cash flow potential:

Purchase Price: $86,600 (based on the Zestimate)

Repair Costs: $0

After-Repair Value: $86,600

Suggested Rent: $1,102 (based on the Rent Zestimate)

RTP Ratio: 1.27%

Despite its modest size of under 700 sq. ft., the returns are impressive. Several similar options are available at this price point.

For those with more to invest, properties in the $100K–$150K range offer plenty of additional opportunities.

1. The Fixer-Upper

This spacious 3-bedroom home is located near Salter Memorial Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, and the Country Club of Detroit. Its prime location promises stronger long-term equity gains and higher rental income, with a Zestimate rent of $1,621 per month.

While some bathroom and kitchen renovations are needed to bring it to rent-ready condition, here’s how the numbers could work out:

Purchase Price: $132,900 (according to the Zestimate)

Repair Costs: $15,000

After-Repair Value: $147,900

Suggested Rent: $1,621

RTP Ratio: 1.1%

Even at a higher price point, the 1% Rule is achievable.

Plus, there’s added potential for value appreciation, as similar properties like 21525 and 21315 Bournemouth St sold for $170,000 each in summer 2024, with renovations already completed.

Area and Tenant Quality

Now that we’ve covered the numbers, it’s time to take a closer look at what it really feels like to invest in Harper Woods.

By examining the housing stock quality, tenant quality, area development, and crime & safety, we can get a better sense of the area’s livability and the kind of tenants it tends to attract.

These factors play a crucial role in shaping long-term rental success and the overall potential of your investment.

Housing Stock

Most homes in Harper Woods, built between 1940 and 1969, are cozy bungalows of around 1,000 square feet on small lots.

This keeps properties affordable and contributes to the 66% homeownership rate, with well-maintained neighborhoods.

While most homes need little work, older ones may have issues like outdated plumbing, lead-based paint, asbestos, or aging systems, so thorough inspections are a must.

Tenant Stock

Tenants are key to any rental investment.

What kind of tenants can you expect in Harper Woods?

Here’s a snapshot:

Harper Woods hosts a mix of white- and blue-collar workers, with contrasting demographics and housing stock between its southern and northern areas.

The south side, near Detroit, has more rentals and attracts lower-income tenants, while neighborhoods bordering Grosse Pointe see higher-income residents with pricier homes and rents.

New investors should note this divide. Still, most residents here can afford rents, following the “3x monthly salary” rule:

• Average Monthly Household Income: $4,883.92
• Average Monthly Rent: $1,350
• Income = 3.6x Monthly Rent

Overall, Harper Woods is a Class B area with primarily Class B tenants, except near the Detroit border.

Economic Development

Harper Woods is benefitting from Detroit’s resurgence, using increased tax revenue to enhance the area.

Key developments include:

• Eastland Commerce Center: A $135 million project converting Eastland Mall into three modern warehouses for industrial and commercial use. One is already leased to Thai Summit Corporation, promising 60-80 initial jobs, with more expected as occupancy grows.
• New Public High School: The city has built a state-of-the-art high school, featuring the Avatar Academy of Excellence, designed to create a cutting-edge learning environment and attract more families, boosting housing demand.

These initiatives, combined with plans for infrastructure and community improvements, are poised to drive up property values and rental demand in Harper Woods.

Crime and Safety

Harper Woods offers a balanced safety profile, appealing to investors who do their research.

Crime rates vary by neighborhood, with southern areas near Detroit rated Class C+. These spots may see more activity but provide affordable entry points for hands-on investors.

In contrast, neighborhoods closer to Grosse Pointe are closer to B+ in safety, making them more desirable. On-the-ground research or partnering with a local expert is highly recommended for making informed investment decisions here.

Investment Report Card

Now, let's pull all this together and see how Harper Woods measures up.

We’ve designed this standardized Report Card for every city we analyze to help you understand how we evaluate and score each area:

Overall, Harper Woods earns a solid Class B+ rating with appealing features like high demand from a strong Class B tenant pool, entry-level investment properties priced at or below $100k, and well-maintained homes with minimal major issues.

If you’re ready to invest, here are some top streets to target:

• Woodside Street: East of Beaconsfield, near Beacon Elementary. Featuring all-brick homes, it’s a bit pricier and harder to find properties that meet the 1% Rule, but it’s great for deals with motivated sellers.
• Woodland Street: Two blocks north of Woodside, this area has affordable frame homes with aluminum siding. Properties here make solid rentals and show no signs of blight.
• Eastwood Drive: Another two blocks north, this street offers a typical Harper Woods setup–quiet, tree-lined streets with a mix of frame and brick homes, some already upgraded. Homes are typically under $200k and in good condition.

Streets to avoid include Kelly Road along the western Harper Woods border, near Detroit. This Class C/D area has some blight and primarily commercial surroundings, making it less desirable.

With all this insight, you should feel equipped to make your next investment move. Don’t forget to explore our other Deep Dives for more promising areas!

Stay tuned for our upcoming Deep Dives into other Metro Detroit neighborhoods. If you have a specific area in mind, leave a comment, and we'll be sure to cover it in one of our next installments.

Want to explore investment properties in Harper Woods? for a list of our available units.