Backus, MI housing market
Home prices around Backus have risen about 78% over the past 5 years. No new homes were permitted in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Backus compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 78% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Backus rose 78% over the past 5 years, faster than across Michigan (52%). Last year prices rose 4.2%.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Michigan since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +4.2% | +144% | +97% |
| 2024 | +8.8% | +134% | +88% |
| 2023 | +8.6% | +115% | +76% |
| 2022 | +19% | +98% | +64% |
| 2021 | +21% | +66% | +45% |
| 2020 | +5.3% | +37% | +30% |
| 2019 | +7.6% | +30% | +26% |
| 2018 | +6.7% | +21% | +20% |
| 2017 | +6.1% | +13% | +12% |
| 2016 | +6.8% | +6.9% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | +4.4% | 0% | 0% |
| 2014 | +2.7% | −4.2% | −4.7% |
| 2013 | +0.7% | −6.7% | −12% |
| 2012 | −3.8% | −7.3% | −16% |
| 2011 | −4.6% | −3.7% | −16% |
| 2010 | −9.5% | +0.9% | −12% |
| 2009 | −9.1% | +11% | −5% |
| 2008 | −8.3% | +23% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | −0.7% | +34% | +11% |
| 2006 | −1.3% | +35% | +16% |
| 2005 | +8% | +36% | +18% |
| 2004 | +6.5% | +26% | +14% |
| 2003 | +1.2% | +19% | +10% |
| 2002 | +8.1% | +17% | +8.3% |
| 2001 | +8.4% | +8.4% | +5% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 48651, 48656, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost.
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in Backus in 2025. The last year with any was 2023 (2 new homes).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Backus's population fell by 36 even though 4 new homes were permitted. Homes are holding fewer people: households are getting smaller, or more homes are used part of the year. 42% of Backus's homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which adds housing without adding residents. Across Michigan: 1.2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $303,000 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $355,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $768,000 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $151,000 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $180,000 |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $184,000 |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $341,000 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Backus and its neighbors
| Town | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backus | +4.2%† | $990 | 0 | $62,500 |
| Higgins | +8.2%† | $1,000 | 2 | $55,313 |
| Denton | +8.9%† | $1,000 | 9 | $45,640 |
| Richfield | +1%† | $970 | 0 | $47,055 |
| Nester | +5.1%† | $980 | 0 | $63,750 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 · figures for a place this size carry wide margins of error.
A two-bedroom rents for about $990
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Backus is $990 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs.
Studio $700 · 4 bedrooms $1,670
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (48651, 48656; Roscommon County, MI), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.