Key Takeaways
- Grand Rapids' Rental Certification Program requires periodic inspections: Landlords must call within 30 days of notice and complete inspections within 3 months — failure means fines, lost certification, and the inability to legally collect rent
- Lead hazard remediation costs $1,500 to $20,000+ for pre-1978 properties: Federal and Michigan law require landlords to address known lead hazards, and Grand Rapids enforces compliance through its inspection program
- New multifamily construction is flooding the market: 40% of 2024 residential building permits in Grand Rapids were for multifamily units, creating direct competition for tenants and compressing rents on older properties
- Rents are rising 4.1-4.5% YoY but operating costs are rising faster: Insurance premiums, property taxes, maintenance, and compliance costs are outpacing rent growth for many small landlords, eroding net operating income year after year
- Cash sales let you exit cleanly with tenants in place: No repairs, no inspections to pass, no agent commissions, and no months of vacancy — cash buyers close in 7-14 days and purchase the property as-is, often with tenants still occupying the units
You bought the rental because the math made sense. Rents covered the mortgage, taxes, and insurance with enough left over to build equity and put a little cash in your pocket each month. Grand Rapids was growing. Demand was strong. The numbers worked.
Then the Rental Certification Program inspection letter arrived. Then your insurance company raised your premium for the third year in a row. Then the city flagged lead paint in your 1952 duplex and handed you a remediation estimate that wiped out two years of profit. Then the brand-new apartment complex down the street started offering move-in specials your 60-year-old building cannot compete with.
You are not alone. Institutional investors own less than 1% of Grand Rapids' rental housing stock, which means the vast majority of the city's rental units are held by small landlords — individuals and families managing one to five properties. These are the landlords absorbing every cost increase, navigating every regulatory change, and making the personal decision about whether the math still works or whether it is time to sell.
This guide walks through the specific pressures squeezing Grand Rapids landlords in 2026, the hold-versus-sell math, how to sell with tenants in place under Michigan law, and why a cash sale is increasingly the cleanest exit for tired landlords who have done the calculation and decided it is time.
The Rental Certification Program: What It Costs You
Grand Rapids requires every rental property to maintain active certification through the city's Rental Certification Program. The program is managed by the city's Community Development Department and enforces compliance with housing, building, and fire codes through periodic inspections. If your property is not certified, you cannot legally collect rent.
How the Inspection Process Works
When your property comes up for inspection, the city sends a written notice. From the date you receive that notice, you have 30 days to call and schedule the inspection and 3 months to complete it. Missing either deadline triggers enforcement action — fines, citations, and potential loss of your rental certification.
The inspection covers everything from structural integrity and electrical safety to plumbing, fire protection, egress, and general habitability. Inspectors check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, verify that all units have adequate heating, look for water damage, examine stairways and railings, and confirm that the property meets occupancy standards.
What Inspections Actually Cost
The inspection fee itself is only part of the equation. The real cost is what happens when you fail:
| Cost Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Rental certification inspection fee | $50 - $150 per unit |
| Re-inspection fee (failed items) | $50 - $100 per visit |
| Smoke/CO detector replacement | $25 - $75 per unit |
| Electrical code corrections | $200 - $3,000+ |
| Plumbing repairs | $150 - $2,500+ |
| Handrail / egress corrections | $100 - $1,000 |
| Late compliance penalty / fines | $100 - $500+ per violation |
| Total per inspection cycle (with repairs) | $500 - $5,000+ |
For a landlord running a single duplex on thin margins, a $3,000 inspection cycle that includes electrical corrections and plumbing repairs can erase an entire quarter's profit. Multiply that across multiple properties and the Rental Certification Program becomes a recurring capital drain that never appeared in your original investment projections.
When the city sends your inspection notice, you have 30 days to call and schedule — not 30 days to get the property ready. Many landlords receive the notice, look at their property, realize it needs work, and miss the scheduling deadline while scrambling to make repairs. Call first, schedule the inspection, then use the time before the appointment to address issues you know will be flagged.
Lead Hazard Regulations for Pre-1978 Properties
If your Grand Rapids rental was built before 1978, lead paint is not a hypothetical risk — it is a near certainty. And the regulatory and financial consequences of owning a pre-1978 rental with lead hazards have become one of the most significant cost drivers for small landlords in the city.
What the Law Requires
Federal law (the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act) and Michigan's Lead Abatement Act require landlords to disclose known lead hazards to tenants and take action when hazards are identified. Grand Rapids enforces these requirements through its rental inspection program. If an inspector identifies deteriorating paint, chipping surfaces, or other lead hazards during a Rental Certification inspection, the landlord is required to remediate.
The requirements intensify when a child under six years old is a tenant. Michigan's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program triggers additional investigation and remediation requirements when elevated blood lead levels are found in children living in rental housing.
Remediation Cost Range
| Remediation Method | Cost Range | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| Interim controls (encapsulation, paint stabilization) | $1,500 - $5,000 | Minor lead hazards, deteriorating paint |
| Partial abatement (windows, trim, high-contact areas) | $5,000 - $12,000 | Targeted lead hazards on friction and impact surfaces |
| Full abatement (complete removal) | $8,000 - $20,000+ | Extensive lead paint, child exposure cases |
| Lead clearance testing (post-remediation) | $300 - $600 | Required after any abatement work |
| Temporary tenant relocation | $1,000 - $3,000+ | When abatement requires unit vacancy |
The numbers speak for themselves. A pre-1978 duplex that gets flagged for full abatement could cost $20,000 or more — plus lost rent during the remediation period, plus clearance testing, plus the risk of liability if a tenant or their child has been exposed. For a property generating $1,200 per month in net rent, a $20,000 remediation bill equals 16 months of income. That is the kind of expense that changes the entire investment thesis.
And this is not a one-time fix. Interim controls like encapsulation are temporary. They must be maintained, monitored, and eventually redone. The ongoing obligation turns lead remediation from a capital expense into a recurring liability on every pre-1978 property you own.
Operating Costs vs. Rent Growth: The Squeeze
Grand Rapids rents have been growing at a healthy clip — 4.1 to 4.5% year over year in recent data. For landlords who bought when rents were lower and locked in fixed-rate mortgages, that growth should be padding their margins. For many, it is not.
The problem is not that rents are stagnating. The problem is that operating costs are rising faster than rents, and the gap is compressing net operating income year after year.
Where the Money Goes
- Insurance premiums: Landlord insurance in Michigan has risen 8-15% annually in many markets, driven by rising replacement costs, increased weather claims, and broader industry repricing. A policy that cost $1,200 per unit three years ago may cost $1,600-$1,800 today
- Property taxes: Grand Rapids property tax assessments have been rising alongside home values. A property reassessed at a higher value generates a larger tax bill, and Michigan's Proposal A cap on assessment increases (5% or inflation, whichever is less) only limits increases while you own the property — it does not prevent cumulative growth
- Maintenance and repairs: Contractor labor costs in West Michigan have risen significantly, driven by the same construction boom that is producing new multifamily housing. A plumber, electrician, or HVAC technician who charged $75/hour in 2020 may charge $110-$130/hour today
- Compliance costs: Rental Certification inspections, lead remediation, fire safety upgrades, and the administrative time to manage all of it. These costs did not exist or were minimal a decade ago — now they are a permanent line item
- Vacancy and turnover: Every unit turnover costs an average of one to two months of lost rent plus $1,000-$3,000 in cleaning, painting, and minor repairs. As new construction gives tenants more options, turnover rates increase
The Math on a Typical Grand Rapids Duplex
| Line Item | 2023 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross annual rent (2 units) | $25,200 | $28,500 | +13.1% |
| Insurance | $2,400 | $3,200 | +33.3% |
| Property taxes | $3,600 | $4,150 | +15.3% |
| Maintenance and repairs | $3,000 | $4,200 | +40.0% |
| Compliance (inspections, lead, fire) | $400 | $1,200 | +200.0% |
| Vacancy / turnover allowance | $1,260 | $2,000 | +58.7% |
| Net operating income | $14,540 | $13,750 | -5.4% |
Rent grew 13%. Net operating income declined 5.4%. That is the squeeze. Your top line is growing, but your bottom line is shrinking — and that trend does not reverse unless you find a way to cut costs that does not involve deferring maintenance or ignoring compliance requirements.
This is the math that turns engaged landlords into tired landlords. It is not that the property is worthless. It is that the business of owning it no longer generates the return that justifies the work, the risk, and the personal liability.
New Construction Competition: 40% Multifamily Permits
Grand Rapids is building. In 2024, approximately 40% of all residential building permits issued in the city were for multifamily construction — new apartment buildings, townhome developments, and mixed-use projects that are adding hundreds of modern rental units to a market where your 1950s or 1970s property has to compete for the same tenants.
What New Construction Means for Existing Landlords
New multifamily units do not compete with your property on price alone. They compete on amenities, finishes, energy efficiency, and the absence of the problems that plague older buildings. A prospective tenant comparing your property to a brand-new unit down the street sees:
- Modern kitchens and bathrooms vs. your 1970s cabinets and dated tile
- In-unit laundry vs. your shared basement machines or no laundry at all
- Central air conditioning vs. your window units
- Energy-efficient windows and insulation vs. your single-pane windows and drafty units that cost tenants $200+ more per month in utilities
- Move-in specials — one month free, waived application fees, reduced security deposits — that you cannot afford to match without cutting into already thin margins
New Multifamily Pipeline in Grand Rapids
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Share of 2024 residential permits that were multifamily | ~40% |
| Average asking rent for new Class A apartments | $1,400 - $1,800/month |
| Average asking rent for older Class B/C units | $900 - $1,200/month |
| Tenant absorption rate for new units | Strong — but pulling from existing stock |
The rent difference between new and older units might suggest they serve different markets. But that is only partially true. When new buildings offer aggressive move-in specials — first month free on a $1,500 apartment effectively makes the first year $1,375/month — the gap narrows enough to pull tenants who would otherwise rent your $1,100 unit. You lose your best tenants to buildings you cannot compete with, and the tenants who remain are increasingly the ones who have fewer options.
For a small landlord with one or two older properties, the new construction wave is not an abstract market trend. It is a direct threat to your occupancy rate, your ability to raise rents, and the long-term value of your investment.
More options than a single lowball offer for your Grand Rapids rental property. No agent commissions, no repair costs, and close in days instead of months. When compliance costs are eating your margins, cash offers from multiple investors give you the clean exit you need.
See What Cash Buyers Will OfferThe Hold vs. Sell Math
The decision to sell a rental property is ultimately a math problem. Emotion, fatigue, and frustration with regulations all play a role — but the numbers either support holding or they do not. Here is how to run the calculation for your Grand Rapids rental.
When the Numbers Say Sell
There are five financial signals that indicate holding a rental property is no longer the optimal strategy:
- Net operating income has declined for two or more consecutive years. If your rent increases are not keeping up with operating cost increases, the trend will not reverse without either a significant rent jump (which new construction competition may prevent) or a significant cost reduction (which regulations make unlikely)
- A major capital expenditure is approaching. Roof replacement ($8,000-$15,000), lead remediation ($1,500-$20,000+), furnace replacement ($4,000-$8,000), or foundation work ($5,000-$25,000). If the required investment exceeds 2-3 years of net operating income, you are spending years of profit just to maintain the asset
- Your cap rate has fallen below your opportunity cost. If your property generates a 5% cap rate but you could earn 5% in a passive investment with zero management burden, the rental is not compensating you for the work and risk
- Vacancy rates are rising in your submarket. Increasing vacancy — driven by new construction, population shifts, or declining neighborhood appeal — compresses revenue while fixed costs remain constant
- Your personal involvement is unsustainable. If you are the maintenance person, the property manager, and the bookkeeper because paying professionals would eliminate your cash flow, the business model is not viable long-term
Hold vs. Sell: 5-Year Projection on a $185,000 Grand Rapids Duplex
| Scenario | Hold 5 More Years | Sell Now for Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Current property value | $185,000 | $185,000 |
| Estimated value in 5 years (3% annual appreciation) | $214,500 | — |
| 5-year cumulative net rental income | $62,000 | — |
| Required capital expenditures (roof, lead, HVAC) | -$28,000 | $0 |
| Selling costs (traditional sale in year 5) | -$15,000 | $0 |
| Cash sale price (as-is, with tenants) | — | $165,000 |
| Total 5-year financial outcome | $233,500 | $165,000 + reinvestment returns |
On paper, holding wins — $233,500 vs. $165,000. But that hold scenario assumes 100% occupancy for five years, no surprise expenses beyond the budgeted capital expenditures, no increase in property taxes or insurance beyond current projections, and no decline in property value due to new construction competition. If any of those assumptions break — and in a market with 40% multifamily permit share and rising compliance costs, at least one will — the gap narrows or disappears.
The sell-now scenario also does not account for what you do with $165,000 in cash. Reinvested in an index fund averaging 8% annual returns, that $165,000 grows to approximately $242,500 in five years — with zero management burden, zero compliance risk, zero midnight maintenance calls, and zero lead remediation obligations.
How to Sell with Tenants in Place Under Michigan Law
One of the biggest concerns for landlords considering a sale is what happens to their tenants. The good news: Michigan law does not require you to evict tenants before selling, and many cash buyers actually prefer purchasing with tenants in place.
Michigan Lease Transfer Rules
- Fixed-term leases transfer to the new owner. If your tenant has a lease running through December 2026, the new owner must honor that lease through its expiration. All terms — rent amount, pet policies, maintenance responsibilities — carry forward
- Month-to-month tenancies also transfer. The new owner steps into your shoes as landlord and can continue the tenancy or terminate it with proper notice (one full rental period under Michigan law)
- Security deposits transfer to the new owner. Under Michigan law (MCL 554.604), you must transfer all tenant security deposits to the buyer at closing and notify tenants of the transfer in writing
- No right of first refusal. Michigan does not give tenants a statutory right of first refusal when a rental property is sold. You are not required to offer the property to your tenants before selling to a third party
Practical Considerations
While the law allows you to sell with tenants in place, the process works best when you communicate proactively:
- Notify tenants early. You are not legally required to tell tenants you are selling until the sale is finalized, but providing advance notice reduces friction during showings and inspections
- Coordinate showings respectfully. Michigan law requires reasonable notice before entering a tenant's unit. Provide at least 24 hours' notice for showings and try to batch appointments to minimize disruption
- Document lease terms clearly. Cash buyers will want to see every lease, the rent roll, security deposit records, and maintenance history. Having these organized accelerates the sale
- Address any outstanding maintenance requests. Unresolved maintenance issues can complicate the sale and give buyers leverage to negotiate a lower price
Do not assume you need to empty your property to sell it. Many cash buyers who specialize in rental properties actually prefer purchasing with tenants in place because it provides immediate rental income from day one. An occupied property generating $2,200/month in rent is more attractive to an investor than an empty building with zero income and turnover costs ahead.
Tax Implications: 1031 Exchanges and Bonus Depreciation in 2026
Selling a rental property is not just a real estate decision — it is a tax event. Understanding the 2026 tax landscape helps you time your sale, structure your exit, and keep more of your proceeds.
Capital Gains and Depreciation Recapture
When you sell a rental property for more than your adjusted cost basis (original purchase price plus improvements minus depreciation claimed), you owe taxes on two components:
- Capital gains tax: Federal rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income bracket, plus Michigan's flat 4.25% state income tax
- Depreciation recapture: Taxed at a flat 25% federal rate on all depreciation you have claimed during ownership. If you depreciated $40,000 over your holding period, that is $10,000 in federal depreciation recapture tax alone
1031 Exchange: Deferring the Tax Bill
A 1031 Exchange allows you to defer both capital gains and depreciation recapture taxes by reinvesting the sale proceeds into a "like-kind" investment property. The rules are strict:
- You must identify replacement property within 45 days of closing
- You must close on the replacement property within 180 days
- The replacement property must be of equal or greater value
- You must use a qualified intermediary to hold the proceeds — you cannot touch the money
A 1031 Exchange is powerful if you want to move your capital into a better-performing property, a different market, or a more passive investment like a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST). But it requires planning, and the 45-day identification window is tighter than most sellers expect — especially in a competitive market where finding qualifying replacement property takes time.
Bonus Depreciation Changes in 2026
If you are considering a 1031 Exchange into a new rental property, the Bonus Depreciation schedule matters. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set Bonus Depreciation on a declining scale:
| Tax Year | Bonus Depreciation Rate |
|---|---|
| 2022 and earlier | 100% |
| 2023 | 80% |
| 2024 | 60% |
| 2025 | 40% |
| 2026 | 20% |
| 2027 and beyond | 0% (unless Congress acts) |
In 2026, you can only deduct 20% of qualifying property improvements in the first year — down from 100% just four years ago. This means exchanging into a property that needs significant renovation provides less immediate tax benefit than it did in prior years. For landlords using a 1031 Exchange as a strategy to defer taxes and reduce taxable income through accelerated depreciation, the math has gotten less favorable.
This does not mean a 1031 Exchange is a bad strategy. Tax deferral on six figures of capital gains is significant regardless of Bonus Depreciation rates. But it does mean you should talk to a tax professional about whether exchanging or simply paying the taxes and moving on is the better play for your specific situation.
Michigan Eviction Laws: The Hidden Cost of Problem Tenants
Michigan's eviction process is more structured and time-consuming than many landlords expect, and a single problem tenant can consume months of time and thousands of dollars in legal fees and lost rent.
The Michigan Eviction Timeline
Even when a tenant clearly violates their lease — nonpayment of rent, property damage, illegal activity — the eviction process follows a strict legal sequence:
- Written notice period: 7 days for nonpayment of rent, 30 days for lease violations or termination of a month-to-month tenancy. The notice must be properly served
- Filing a summons and complaint: If the tenant does not leave or cure the violation after the notice period, you file in district court. Filing fees typically run $45-$75
- Court hearing: Scheduled 7-10 days after filing. Both parties appear before a judge or magistrate
- Judgment and order of eviction: If you prevail, the court issues a judgment. The tenant typically has 10 days to vacate
- Writ of restitution: If the tenant still refuses to leave, you request a writ of restitution (physical removal by a court officer). This adds another 7-14 days
From the day you serve the initial notice to the day a non-compliant tenant is physically removed, the process typically takes 6 to 10 weeks — and that is without delays, continuances, or tenant counterclaims. During that entire period, you are collecting zero rent while paying the mortgage, insurance, taxes, and attorney fees.
The Real Cost of One Eviction
- Lost rent (2-3 months): $2,000 - $3,600
- Attorney fees: $500 - $2,000
- Court costs and filing fees: $45 - $150
- Unit turnover after eviction (cleaning, repairs, re-leasing): $1,500 - $4,000
- Total cost of one eviction: $4,000 - $10,000+
For a property generating $1,200/month in rent, a single eviction can cost 3-8 months of gross income. If you are managing multiple units and dealing with even one eviction per year, the cumulative drain on your time and capital is substantial.
Resources like the Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA) of Michigan provide guidance, lease templates, and eviction support for landlords. But even with the best resources, the eviction process remains costly and time-consuming — and it is one more factor that makes small landlords question whether the investment is worth the personal toll.
The Cash Sale Exit Strategy
For a Grand Rapids landlord who has run the numbers and decided it is time to exit, a cash sale eliminates the two biggest obstacles to a clean break: the cost of preparing the property to sell and the time it takes to close.
What a Cash Sale Eliminates
- Agent commissions (5-6% of sale price): On a $185,000 property, that is $9,250-$11,100 that stays in your pocket instead of going to agents
- Pre-sale repairs and inspections: Cash buyers purchase as-is. No Rental Certification compliance, no lead remediation, no cosmetic updates. The property sells in whatever condition it is in today
- Tenant displacement: Cash buyers who specialize in rentals often keep existing tenants. You do not need to navigate evictions, lease terminations, or vacancy periods before selling
- Months of carrying costs: A cash sale closes in 7-14 days. Every month your property sits on the MLS with a traditional listing, you are paying the mortgage, insurance, taxes, and maintenance — $1,500-$2,500/month on a typical Grand Rapids duplex
- Buyer financing risk: No appraisal contingencies, no loan approval delays, no last-minute denials. Cash means the funds are available and the sale closes on schedule
Why Competition Among Buyers Changes Everything
A single cash buyer has every incentive to lowball you. They know you are tired, they know the property has compliance issues, and they know you want a quick exit. That dynamic produces one take-it-or-leave-it number that may undervalue your property by $15,000-$25,000.
Multiple interested cash buyers shift the leverage. When several investors are evaluating the same property — each with their own renovation budget, rent projections, and return targets — the competition forces prices up. The investor who knows the Grand Rapids market best and can operate most efficiently wins by offering the most, not the least.
This is the difference between one lowball offer and a competitive process that surfaces the true market value of your property to cash investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grand Rapids Rental Certification Program and how does it affect landlords?
The Grand Rapids Rental Certification Program requires every rental property in the city to undergo periodic inspections to verify compliance with housing, building, and fire codes. Landlords must call within 30 days of receiving their inspection notice and complete the inspection within 3 months. Failure to comply can result in fines, loss of rental certification, and the inability to legally rent the property. The program adds recurring costs — inspection fees, required repairs, and potential downtime — that many small landlords underestimate when calculating their annual operating expenses.
How much does lead paint remediation cost for Grand Rapids rental properties?
Lead hazard remediation for pre-1978 rental properties in Grand Rapids typically costs between $1,500 and $20,000 or more, depending on the size of the property, the extent of lead paint surfaces, and the remediation method required. Simple interim controls like encapsulation cost $1,500 to $5,000, while full abatement involving removal of lead-painted surfaces can run $8,000 to $20,000+. Federal and Michigan law require landlords to address known lead hazards, and Grand Rapids enforces these requirements through its rental inspection program.
Can I sell my Grand Rapids rental property with tenants still living in it?
Yes, you can sell a rental property with tenants in place under Michigan law. Existing leases transfer to the new owner, meaning month-to-month tenants continue under the same terms and fixed-term lease tenants are protected until their lease expires. You are not required to evict tenants before selling. Cash buyers who specialize in rental properties often prefer purchasing with tenants in place, as it provides immediate rental income from day one. Michigan law does not require landlords to give tenants a right of first refusal, but you should provide reasonable notice for property showings.
When does selling a rental property make more financial sense than continuing to hold it?
Selling makes more financial sense than holding when your annual operating cost increases consistently outpace rental income growth. In Grand Rapids, rents are rising 4.1-4.5% year over year, but insurance premiums, maintenance costs, property taxes, and compliance expenses are often increasing faster. The tipping point typically arrives when your net operating income declines for two or more consecutive years, when a major capital expenditure like lead remediation or roof replacement would consume multiple years of profit, or when new multifamily construction in your area begins pulling tenants and compressing rents.
What are the tax implications of selling a Grand Rapids rental property in 2026?
Selling a rental property triggers capital gains tax on any profit and depreciation recapture tax on the depreciation you have claimed. In 2026, the Bonus Depreciation rate has dropped to 20%, down from 40% in 2025 and 100% in 2022, reducing the tax benefit of purchasing replacement property. A 1031 Exchange allows you to defer capital gains by reinvesting proceeds into a like-kind property within 180 days, but the rules are strict and the timeline is tight. Consult a tax professional before selling, as the specific tax impact depends on your cost basis, holding period, depreciation history, and overall income.
Your Rental Property Did Its Job — Now It's Time for a Clean Exit
Being a landlord in Grand Rapids was a good investment when the numbers worked. For many small landlords in 2026, the numbers have stopped working — not because the property is worthless, but because rising insurance, escalating compliance costs, lead remediation obligations, and competition from new construction have compressed margins to the point where the return no longer justifies the risk and the work.
You do not owe anyone an explanation for deciding to sell. The Rental Certification Program, lead hazard regulations, rising contractor costs, and Michigan's eviction process are real burdens that fall disproportionately on small landlords managing one or two properties without the economies of scale that larger operators enjoy.
A cash sale gives you the cleanest possible exit. No repairs, no compliance scramble, no agent commissions, no months on the market, and no tenant displacement. You sell the property as-is, with tenants in place, and close in days instead of months. The capital you free up goes wherever you decide — a passive investment, a down payment on your next chapter, or simply the peace of mind that comes from being done.
See What Cash Buyers Will Offer for Your Grand Rapids Rental Property
- No fees, no commissions — keep your full offer amount
- No repairs needed — sell your rental property as-is, tenants in place
- Close in 7-14 days — or on your timeline
- More options than a single lowball offer — not one lowball offer
- Zero obligation — back out anytime, no questions asked
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Grand Rapids rental certification requirements, lead hazard regulations, Michigan landlord-tenant laws, and federal tax rules may change. The Bonus Depreciation rates referenced are based on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act schedule and may be modified by future legislation. Consult with a Michigan real estate attorney and a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.