Schools
Schools fall under Montrose Community School District (~1,460 students), anchored by Hill-McCloy High School on Nanita Drive.
Genesee County, Michigan
Mortgage Lender in Montrose, MI
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Buying a home in Montrose
Tucked into the northwest corner of Genesee County, Montrose is a small farming town of about 1,743 residents where blueberry rows and orchard country still define the landscape. Life here orbits the century-old Montrose Orchards and the Montrose Blueberry Festival, a regional tradition running every summer since 1972. Most households earn their living in the broader Flint economy, McLaren Flint, Hurley Medical Center, GM operations, and commute back to quiet acreage off M-57 (Vienna Road). Montrose Community School District is itself one of the area's larger employers. For buyers, the appeal is plain: rural pricing, low effective property taxes, and a tight-knit community within easy reach of Flint. Align Lending works this ZIP specifically, matching small-market financing to the way Montrose actually transacts.
By the numbers
Montrose housing and mortgage snapshot
Values move. Treat these as orientation and let us pull current figures for the address you are considering.
$180,000
Typical home value, from the market research on this page
+52%
Typical rise in taxable value the year after a home sells, 2026 Uncapping Study
0.42%
Effective property tax rate, as a share of value
1
Residential ZIP codes
What financing looks like in Montrose
To comfortably carry the ~$180,000 median home, plan on roughly $50,000-$60,000 in household income (about 10% down, rates near 6.5-7%, plus taxes, insurance, and PMI). Buyers targeting the ~$165,000 end or putting more down can qualify closer to $45,000-$50,000. Montrose's effective property tax rate is low, about 0.42%, a median bill near $850 (Ownwell), but budget for a higher post-sale bill, since a newly purchased non-homestead property re-levies at Genesee County school millage. With prices well under the conforming ceiling, jumbo loans are rarely a factor here; FHA, VA, and USDA rural financing fit far better. First-time buyers should ask us about MSHDA down payment assistance.
Nearly every Montrose purchase fits well under the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750, so loan size is rarely the constraint.
The market
The Montrose housing market
The typical Montrose home sits around $180,000 (Zillow ZIP 48457), though sources scatter between roughly $163,000 and $200,000 depending on method and month. Year-over-year movement is essentially flat, Zillow shows about +0.2%, while Movoto reported a roughly -6% dip in median list price in spring 2026, the kind of swing you expect when a town this size closes only a handful of homes a month. Days on market reflect that thin volume too: figures range from the high 30s to roughly 90 days across sources, so a working estimate is 40 to 60 days. Demand is driven less by speculation than by acreage, farm parcels, and families staying inside the Hill-McCloy school feeder.
Where to look
Montrose neighborhoods
Seymour Road area, ~$130,000-$230,000.
A frequently listed corridor mixing in-town lots with edge-of-township parcels.
Lake Road / rural Montrose Township, ~$150,000-$260,000+.
Larger-acreage rural and farm properties ringing the city, with the widest price spread.
Bel-Aire Woods, ~$150,000-$250,000.
A named residential pocket cited in Montrose Township listings (confirm boundaries locally).
Schools and commute
Commute
Commute-wise, Flint is an easy 25-30 minutes via M-57/I-75; downtown Detroit is about 85-90 miles south, roughly 1.5 hours, fine for an occasional trip, less so daily.
Michigan property taxes
Montrose 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 Montrose, our 2026 Uncapping Study found taxable value typically rises about 52% the year after a sale: roughly $2,740 more in first-year tax on a $300,000 home at the local homestead millage. We build your payment on that post-sale number.
In Samantha's words
In Michigan, don't just look at the current tax bill. Understand what could happen after ownership changes.
Local resources
Check Montrose records yourself
The official offices behind the tax and school details on this page.
- City of Montrose Assessor, for parcel records and current taxable value
- Montrose Community Schools, for district boundaries and enrollment
- Genesee County Equalization Department, for county property tax records
What our clients say
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Travis and the team at Align Lending are hands down the best mortgage option for anyone looking to buy or refinance. Travis spent as much time as it took to be sure I was in the best spot to buy a house and stuck with me through it all. I am so proud of my home and none of it would have been possible without Travis.
★★★★★
Very professional and knowledgeable, highly recommend for your lending needs!
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Can’t say enough great things about Samantha and her team at Align Lending! Highly recommend
★★★★★
Samantha is a rockstar. We had an unusual situation with our lending and she went above and beyond to help us get our mortgage approved. I truly feel that if we had worked with any other lender or broker, we would not have been able to close on time, or maybe at all. I am beyond happy with the work Samantha did for us and how she handled the entire process. I cannot say enough good things about the work she did for me and my husband. I will be recommending Align Lending and Samantha to anyone that needs a lender.
★★★★★
Just bought my first home and Ryan Greiner made the mortgage process incredibly quick and easy to understand. He worked hand in hand with my realtor and made sure everything I needed was ready when it had to be. Definitely reccomend Align Lending and Ryan both!
★★★★★
As first time homebuyers we made sure to do our research before choosing a mortgage broker. We decided to go with Align Lending and could not have made a better choice. We worked with Samantha and she made the entire process smooth and easy. The customer service was top notch! The professional, yet caring approach was just what we were looking. We highly recommend Align Lending!
Individual experiences. Results vary.
Montrose mortgage questions
If yours is not here, ask it on the call. There are no dumb questions.
What is the typical home price in Montrose, MI (48457)?
As of mid-2026, the typical Montrose home runs around $180,000, with most sources falling in the $163,000-$200,000 range depending on methodology. Prices have been roughly flat year over year. The local market is modest and rural, so inventory is limited and individual sales can swing the median noticeably.
How much income do I need to buy a median-priced home in Montrose?
Plan on roughly $50,000-$60,000 in household income to comfortably afford the ~$180,000 median home, assuming about 10% down, current rates near 6.5-7%, and taxes, insurance, and PMI. Buyers with more down payment or targeting a home closer to $165,000 may qualify nearer $45,000-$50,000. A local lender can give you an exact pre-approval figure.
Are property taxes high in Montrose?
Montrose has a notably low effective property tax rate, around 0.42%, with a median annual bill near $850, well under the national median. Keep in mind that a newly purchased, non-homestead, or higher-value home will carry a larger bill than that median figure, since Genesee County school millage applies. Ask your lender to estimate the post-sale taxable value.
What school district serves Montrose, MI 48457?
The city and most of Montrose Township are served by Montrose Community School District, which enrolls roughly 1,460 students. Its high school is Hill-McCloy High School (grades 8-12) on Nanita Drive, alongside Carter Middle School and district elementary schools.
What is Montrose, Michigan known for?
Montrose is a small, rural farming community in the northwest corner of Genesee County, best known for its blueberry and fruit-growing heritage. The century-old Montrose Orchards and the annual Montrose Blueberry Festival (running since 1972) are the town’s signature attractions, along with the Montrose Historical & Telephone Pioneer Museum.
Is Montrose a good place to buy if I work in Flint or Detroit?
Montrose is very practical for a Flint-area commute, roughly 25-30 minutes to Flint via M-57/I-75. Detroit is about 85-90 miles south, typically 1.5 hours each way, so it works better as an occasional trip than a daily commute. Buyers get small-town, rural pricing and low property taxes in exchange for that distance.
Talk with a local mortgage expert
Tell Samantha what you are trying to do in Montrose 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
We look at your situation
A licensed Align loan officer 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.
