In court-decided eviction outcomes for Fraser, MI, tenants prevail in roughly 31.8% 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
59d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Fraser, MI until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 59 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$2.5–7.4k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Fraser, MI costs landlords $2,536 to $7,435 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$843
28% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Fraser, MI is $843 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 28% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
26.7%
of households
26.7% of occupied housing units in Fraser, 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
10.4%
5.2% unemp.
10.4% of Fraser, MI residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 5.2%. 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 +13.7% (2024)
5.1
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
5.1
State political climate
Michigan legislature & governorship
3.3
Economic stress
10.4% poverty · 5.2% unemp.
6.1
Supply constraint
$843 average · 26.7% renters
5.0
Rent Control risk
27.5% of income on rent
5.8
Eviction process difficulty
59 days filing → judgment
3.1
Tenant organizing strength
26.7% renters
6.0
Housing court bias
County bench composition
5.6
Geographic context
Risk heat across Fraser and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Fraser compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Macomb County
Low
#10of 14 cities
#10 of 14 cities in Macomb County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Michigan
Moderate
#342of 743 cities
#342 of 743 cities in Michigan for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.9 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
59d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $843/mo. A contested eviction takes 59 days and costs $2,536–$7,435 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
26.7%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 14,583 residents, 26.7% rent. 28% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 10.4% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
5.1
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 5.1 and 5.1 (GOP margin +13.7% (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 3.1, housing court bias 5.6, rent-control risk 5.8. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-1.9 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
6.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 6.1. Supply constraint: 5. The numbers behind those: 10.4% poverty, 5.2% unemployment, 28% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Fraser sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Fraser · 59d · ~$5.0k all-in ($85/day) · score 3National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Fraser, Michigan, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3/10 (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.
Fraser is a city of 14,583 residents where 26.7% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 27.5% of income on rent. At an average rent of $843/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 Fraser eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 3.1/10, 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 Fraser closes 59 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 Fraser's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 5.6/10 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 Fraser runs $2,536 to $7,435 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 59 days of typical timeline and $843/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 6/10 in Fraser, and the city has limited rent control exposure (5.8/10). 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 Fraser: 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 $7,435 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Fraser
Trap · 26.7%
26.7% renter share against 14,583 residents produces roughly 3,899 rental occupants in Fraser. Macomb County voted R 8.1% in 2020. Eviction filings tend to cluster in the multifamily rental corridor.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What if my tenant just disappears?
If your tenant abandons the property and leaves belongings, you still need to follow a process. You can't just change the locks. Michigan law requires you to send a notice to their last known address, giving them time to claim their property. If they don't respond, you can then dispose of or sell the items, and formally regain possession of the unit. Consult an attorney for specific timelines and notice requirements to avoid liability.
Q2
Can I charge late fees in Fraser?
Yes, you can charge reasonable late fees in Michigan, but they must be clearly stated in your lease agreement. There isn't a statewide cap on late fees, but courts typically consider fees that are excessive or punitive to be unenforceable. A common practice is a flat fee (e.g., $25-$50) or a small percentage of the monthly rent if not paid after a grace period (e.g., 5 days).
Q3
Is rent control a risk in Fraser?
Michigan has a statewide prohibition on local rent control ordinances. This means Fraser cannot enact its own rent control laws. However, the eviction risk score includes a "rent-control-risk" sub-score of 5.8/10, indicating that while not currently allowed, there could be political pressure for such measures in the future, particularly at the state level. Stay informed about Michigan rent control rules.
Q4
What's the biggest mistake landlords make in Fraser?
The biggest mistake is failing to serve proper legal notices or trying to shortcut the eviction process. Whether it's a 7-day pay-or-quit or a 30-day termination, getting the dates, content, and service method wrong will delay your case, cost you more money, and potentially force you to restart. Relying on an outdated lease or verbal agreements is also a huge pitfall.
Q5
Can I evict a tenant for property damage?
Yes, if the property damage is significant and violates the terms of your lease, you can evict a tenant. You would typically need to serve a "notice to quit for damage to premises" or a "notice to quit for violation of lease terms," giving the tenant a reasonable time (often 7 or 30 days, depending on the severity and curability) to remedy the situation or move out. Document the damage thoroughly with photos and written descriptions.
Q6
Do I need a license to be a landlord in Fraser?
Generally, you don't need a specific "landlord license" from the City of Fraser to rent out a residential property. However, all rental properties must comply with local zoning ordinances and building codes. You may need to register your rental property with the city for inspection purposes, especially if it's a multi-unit dwelling. Always check with the Fraser City Clerk's office or building department for any local registration or inspection requirements specific to rental units.
A 3/10 places Fraser in the 59th 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 Fraser (3/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
