Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Buena Vista, Michigan
A $52,000 home here costs
$666per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $28,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $284. The real number is $383 higher every month, 135% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Saginaw County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Buena Vista against Saginaw County and Michigan
| Measure | Buena Vista | Saginaw County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $51,800 | $139,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,316 | $2,190 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.541% | 1.571% |
| Median gross rent | $875 | $921 |
| Population | 5,904 | 189,210 |
The weather behind that power bill
Buena Vista sits in Saginaw County, which averages a high of 82.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 32.12" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 631 cooling and 6,782 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Saginaw County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Saginaw County
Full Saginaw County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Buena Vista averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Buena Vista every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Buena Vista I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Buena Vista?
A $52,000 home in Buena Vista, Michigan costs approximately $666 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $284 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $19 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $43 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Buena Vista?
Buena Vista has an effective property tax rate of 2.541%, based on a median home value of $51,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,316. That is higher than the Saginaw County average of 1.571%.
What is the average home price in Buena Vista?
The median owner-occupied home value in Buena Vista, Michigan is $51,800, against $139,400 across Saginaw County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buena Vista?
Median gross rent in Buena Vista is $875 a month, against $666 to own the median home all in. Owning costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Buena Vista?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Buena Vista, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $28,500 a year. That covers the full $666 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Buena Vista, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.