In court-decided eviction outcomes for Wakefield, MI, tenants prevail in roughly 24.9% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
60d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Wakefield, MI until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 60 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$2.7–6.1k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Wakefield, MI costs landlords $2,702 to $6,054 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$649
25% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Wakefield, MI is $649 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 25% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
18.0%
of households
18.0% of occupied housing units in Wakefield, MI are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
22.0%
2.8% unemp.
22.0% of Wakefield, MI residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 2.8%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +17.1% (2024)
4.9
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
4.9
State political climate
Michigan legislature & governorship
3.3
Economic stress
22.0% poverty · 2.8% unemp.
6.5
Supply constraint
$649 average · 18.0% renters
3.2
Rent Control risk
25.0% of income on rent
9.6
Eviction process difficulty
60 days filing → judgment
2.9
Tenant organizing strength
18.0% renters
4.2
Housing court bias
County bench composition
8.9
Geographic context
Risk heat across Wakefield and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Wakefield compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Gogebic County
Moderate
#4of 7 cities
#4 of 7 cities in Gogebic County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Michigan
Low
#585of 743 cities
#585 of 743 cities in Michigan for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.8
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 2.8/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.7 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
60d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $649/mo. A contested eviction takes 60 days and costs $2,702–$6,054 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
18.0%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 1,683 residents, 18.0% rent. 25% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 22.0% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
4.9
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 4.9 and 4.9 (GOP margin +17.1% (2024)). State climate at 3.3, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
3.3
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 3.3/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 2.9, housing court bias 8.9, rent-control risk 9.6. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-2.1 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
6.5
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 6.5. Supply constraint: 3.2. The numbers behind those: 22.0% poverty, 2.8% unemployment, 25% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Wakefield sits in the slow but cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Wakefield · 60d · ~$4.4k all-in ($73/day) · score 2.8National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Wakefield, Michigan, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.8/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Wakefield is a city of 1,683 residents where 18.0% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 25.0% of income on rent. At an average rent of $649/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Wakefield eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 2.9/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Wakefield closes 60 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Wakefield's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 8.9/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Wakefield runs $2,702 to $6,054 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 60 days of typical timeline and $649/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 4.2/10 in Wakefield, and the city sits at the top of the rent control risk spectrum (9.6/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Michigan, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Wakefield: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Michigan's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $6,054 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Wakefield
Trap · PRACTICAL TRAP
Cost-versus-timeline trade-off: at 60 days and roughly $6,054 on the high end, cash-for-keys at $2,421 to $3,632 typically beats the legal route for non-aggravated cases. Default judgment frequency is high under MCL 600.5701.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I evict a tenant in Wakefield for any reason?
No, not for "any" reason. You need a legally valid reason, such as non-payment of rent, lease violations, or the end of a lease term. While Michigan doesn't have statewide "just cause" eviction requirements, you still must follow proper notice periods and court procedures based on the reason for eviction. For example, a 7-day notice for non-payment, or a 30-day notice for a no-cause termination at the end of a lease.
Q2
How long does it typically take to evict someone in Wakefield, MI?
On average, an eviction in Wakefield, MI, takes about 60 days from the time you serve the initial notice to when you regain possession of the property. This timeline can be shorter if the tenant moves out quickly or longer if the case is contested or there are delays in court. Always factor in at least two months when budgeting for lost rent.
Q3
What are the biggest mistakes landlords make during eviction in Michigan?
The biggest mistakes include: not serving the correct notice, improperly filling out notices, accepting partial rent payments after serving a notice (which can reset the eviction process), attempting "self-help" evictions (like changing locks or shutting off utilities), and not having proper documentation in court. Follow every step carefully, and consider legal counsel.
Q4
Is cash-for-keys a good option for Wakefield landlords?
Yes, cash-for-keys can be an excellent option for Wakefield landlords, especially given the typical 60-day eviction timeline and costs of $2,702, $6,054. Offering a tenant money to vacate quickly and peacefully can save you significant time, legal fees, and potential property damage. It's a pragmatic business decision to cut your losses and re-rent faster.
Q5
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Gogebic County?
While you can represent yourself, it's highly recommended to consult or hire an attorney, especially given Michigan's higher housing-court-bias sub-score of 8.9. An attorney ensures all notices are correct, court filings are timely, and you present the strongest case possible, minimizing delays and costly errors. This is particularly true if the tenant hires their own counsel or if the case becomes complicated.
Q6
What tenant protections should I be aware of in Michigan?
Michigan has various tenant protections, including rules around security deposits (1.5 months cap, 30-day return deadline), landlord entry (reasonable notice required), and habitability standards. While there's no statewide source-of-income protection or just-cause eviction, always stay updated on Michigan tenant protections to avoid legal issues. Treat tenants fairly and within the bounds of the law.
A 2.8/10 places Wakefield in the 33rd percentile of Michigan cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Wakefield (2.8/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
