Schools
All of 48178 is served by South Lyon Community Schools, which spans about 83 square miles across Oakland, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties with 12 schools.
Oakland County, Michigan
Mortgage Broker in South Lyon, MI
Local mortgage guidance for South Lyon buyers and homeowners, with options shopped across multiple wholesale lenders and one Michigan broker who stays with your file.
- No credit pull to talk
- Licensed loan originator, NMLS 1647301
Buying a home in South Lyon
South Lyon wears two faces inside a single ZIP code. The historic, walkable City of South Lyon, anchored by the Queen Anne "witch's hat" turret of the South Lyon Depot and a downtown packed with 100-plus shops and restaurants, sits beside the larger, semi-rural sweep of Lyon Township. That split gives 48178 an unusually wide price range, from in-town starter homes to township luxury builds. Home to roughly 12,465 residents, the area leans on advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, with MST Seamless Tube & Pipe and Busch's Fresh Food Market among local names. Many residents commute about 20 minutes on US-23 to Ann Arbor's Michigan Medicine and Trinity Health systems. Whether you are crossing the Huron Valley Rail Trail on weekends or eyeing a build near Tanglewood, Align Lending matches the financing to the address.
By the numbers
South Lyon housing and mortgage snapshot
Values move. Treat these as orientation and let us pull current figures for the address you are considering.
$458,000
Typical home value, from the market research on this page
+38%
Typical rise in taxable value the year after a home sells, 2026 Uncapping Study
1.35%
Property tax current owners pay, as a share of value. A buyer's bill can reset higher the year after a sale
1
Residential ZIP code: 48178
What financing looks like in South Lyon
At the $458,000 median, a comfortable purchase typically calls for roughly $125,000 to $135,000 in household income; your own number turns on your down payment, rate and debts, which Samantha can walk through with you. Since the local median household income is $92,467, many buyers lean on dual incomes, larger down payments, or lower-priced in-town and condo options. Watch your tax line carefully: the effective property tax rate runs about 1.35%, and a Lyon Township address (about 31 mills) can pay more than $1,000 a year less in property tax than one in the City of South Lyon (about 40 mills). First-time buyers should ask about MSHDA down-payment assistance. Most 48178 purchases stay within conforming limits, and a township luxury build needs a jumbo loan only when the amount borrowed is above the limit.
Most South Lyon purchases fit under the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750; only the largest homes need a jumbo loan.
The market
The South Lyon housing market
The average home value across ZIP 48178 is about $458,000, up roughly 4.7% over the past year per Zillow, while median sale prices reported elsewhere run higher, closer to the $500,000 to $520,000 band, because the ZIP mixes older city stock with upscale Lyon Township construction. Inventory moves fast: homes have been going under contract in about 20 days, down sharply from roughly 63 days a year earlier. Demand is driven by the Ann Arbor employment corridor and buyers trading dense Novi/Northville pricing for more land. Well-priced "hot" homes can clear in about a week, sometimes over list.
Where to look
South Lyon neighborhoods and nearby
Colonial Acres
A 55+ active-adult co-op community of attached ranch homes from the 1970s to 2000s, with a clubhouse, pool, ponds, and walking paths, an affordable entry point for the area. Prices run about $85,000 to $180,000.
Downtown South Lyon
Older, walkable homes steps from the historic shopping and dining district and the South Lyon Hotel. Prices run about $250,000 to $450,000.
Tanglewood
In Lyon Township, outside the city limits: a golf-course community of condos and single-family homes wrapped around the 27-hole Tanglewood Golf Club. Prices run about $300,000 to $600,000.
Pheasant Run
Large 1 to 5 acre lots with generous spacing and quick access to I-96 and US-23. Prices run about $400,000 to $550,000.
Woodwind Glen / Woodwind Village (in Lyon Township)
Newer single-family homes (built about 2012 to 2014), 2,500 to 3,500 sq ft with upscale finishes. Prices run about $450,000 to $650,000 and up.
Schools and commute
Commute
Downtown Detroit is roughly a 45 to 55 minute drive via I-96.
Michigan property taxes
South Lyon property taxes after you buy
The year after a Michigan home sells, its taxable value resets to half of the assessor's market value, so the seller's tax bill is not your tax bill.
In the City of South Lyon, our 2026 Uncapping Study found taxable value typically rises about 38% the year after a sale. On a $450,000 home, near the typical South Lyon value, the first-year tax goes up roughly $2,620 at the South Lyon schools rate. We build your payment on that post-sale number.
Looking at a South Lyon address? Our Michigan property tax calculator finds that property's published 2025 millage and works out the tax to plan for after you buy.
In Samantha's words
I'd much rather somebody ask me, "Why are your taxes higher than what I'm seeing online?" than have them build a housing budget around the wrong assumption.
Local resources
Check South Lyon records yourself
The official offices behind the tax and school details on this page.
- City of South Lyon Assessing, for parcel records and current taxable value
- South Lyon Community Schools, for district boundaries and enrollment
- Oakland County Treasurer, property taxes, for county property tax records
What our clients say
★★★★★
Samantha Shelton is amazing!! She helped me get into my first home in Ferndale. The closing process was easy I was able to take care of everything without taking a day off of work. Being a first time homebuyer was stressful but she provided clear communication and true experience guidance throughout the entire process
★★★★★
Can’t say enough great things about Samantha and her team at Align Lending! Highly recommend
★★★★★
As a first-time homebuyer in Ferndale, I was unsure of some things. Samantha was awesome. She was extremely helpful and made sure I understood every part of the process.
★★★★★
Want to shout out Samantha for the expert guidance, made my first-time homebuyer experience seamless! It exceeded expectations and was a stress free process throughout. Grateful for all your help and loving my new home in Bloomfield Hills!
Individual experiences. Results vary.
South Lyon mortgage questions
If yours is not here, ask it on the call. There are no dumb questions.
What is the median home price in South Lyon, MI 48178?
The average home value in ZIP 48178 is about $458,000, up roughly 4.7% over the past year (Zillow). Median sale prices run higher, in the $500,000 to $520,000 range, because the ZIP covers both the older City of South Lyon and the upscale newer builds in Lyon Township.
How fast do homes sell in South Lyon?
Very fast. Homes have been going under contract in about 20 days on average (Redfin), down dramatically from roughly 63 days a year earlier. Well-priced “hot” homes can sell in about a week and occasionally over list price, so buyers should be ready to move quickly.
What are property taxes like in South Lyon?
The effective property tax rate is about 1.35%, higher than the 1.02% national median. The City of South Lyon homestead millage is around 40 mills, while Lyon Township is roughly 31 mills, about 9 mills lower, so a township address can pay more than $1,000 a year less in property tax on a comparable home.
What school district serves South Lyon 48178?
South Lyon Community Schools serves the area, spanning about 83 square miles across Oakland, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. It runs 12 schools, including two high schools.
What’s the commute from South Lyon to Detroit or Ann Arbor?
Downtown Detroit is roughly a 45 to 55 minute drive via I-96, longer during rush hour. Ann Arbor is only about 20 minutes away via US-23, which is why many South Lyon residents work in Ann Arbor’s Michigan Medicine and Trinity Health systems.
Talk with a local mortgage expert
Tell Samantha what you are trying to do in South Lyon and she will tell you what actually matters for your situation, including whether the timing is right.
- 1
Tell us what you are trying to do
Not what product you want. What you are actually trying to accomplish.
- 2
Samantha looks at your situation
She works out what matters most for you specifically.
- 3
You leave with a plan
Your options, the tradeoffs, and your next step. No obligation to go further.
Align Lending LLC, NMLS #2041154. Samantha Shelton, NMLS 1647301. Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Figures on this page are market research for orientation, not a quote. This page is for educational purposes only. It is not a credit decision, a preapproval, a commitment to lend, or an offer of credit.
