Detroit: A 10.5% Appreciation Powerhouse in a Cooling Market

In a year when many U.S. housing markets struggled or even saw price declines, Detroit has become a standout performer. Over the past four quarters (July 2024 to June 2025), Detroit’s home prices appreciated an impressive 10.5%, one of the strongest gains in the Midwest, as shown on the map above.

This appreciation is backed by real economic progress. Detroit’s economy has diversified beyond autos into technology, healthcare, and small-business entrepreneurship, driving demand for housing while keeping supply tight. Public and private reinvestment — from infrastructure upgrades to neighborhood revitalization — is fueling Detroit’s transformation into a vibrant, sustainable city. This translates directly into rising home values that aren’t based on speculation, but on genuine fundamentals.

For investors, Detroit is the rare combination of affordable buy-in prices with double-digit appreciation and high rental yields. As other expensive coastal markets face stagnation or even negative price growth, Detroit’s 10.5% appreciation shows it is still early in its growth curve. With rising demand, an expanding job base, and reasonable entry costs, Detroit is arguably one of the best-positioned metro markets in the country to capture both short-term gains and long-term equity growth.