Schools
Birmingham's character changes block by block: All of 48009 is served by Birmingham Public Schools, which also covers Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills, Franklin and parts of Bloomfield, Troy, Southfield and West Bloomfield.
Oakland County, Michigan
Mortgage Broker in Birmingham, MI
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Buying a home in Birmingham
Few Michigan addresses carry the cachet of Birmingham. The city wraps roughly 21,800 residents around a nationally known walkable downtown, close to 300 boutiques, restaurants, galleries and salons radiating from Old Woodward and Maple, anchored by the landmark Townsend Hotel and the summer concerts at Shain Park. This is a high-amenity community where the median household income runs near $153,500, roughly double the national figure, and where retail, hospitality and professional services share the tax base with executives commuting to Metro Detroit's automotive corporate core. Employers like Conifer Holdings and Birmingham Public Schools sit alongside that retail engine. The result, reflected in Zillow's home values, is one of Michigan's costliest and most competitive housing markets, and a financing landscape that rewards a lender who knows it.
By the numbers
Birmingham housing and mortgage snapshot
Values move. Treat these as orientation and let us pull current figures for the address you are considering.
$608,000
Typical home value, from the market research on this page
+26%
Typical rise in taxable value the year after a home sells, 2026 Uncapping Study
1.41%
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: 48009
What financing looks like in Birmingham
At these price points, financing strategy matters. Comfortably buying a median Birmingham home generally takes roughly $175,000 to $235,000 in household income, once you factor the effective about 1.41% property tax rate, above Michigan's about 1.05% median, with a median annual bill near $8,329. Many 48009 homes sell above the conforming loan limit, so jumbo financing comes up often here, especially in Quarton Lake Estates and Poppleton Park, though a purchase needs one only when the amount borrowed is above the limit; getting jumbo reserves and documentation right early matters. MSHDA first-time-buyer programs rarely fit this market's prices, so entry buyers often target in-town condos in the $400Ks where conforming loans still apply. A local conversation beats any online estimate.
Most Birmingham purchases fit under the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750; only the largest homes need a jumbo loan.
The market
The Birmingham housing market
Price depends heavily on which yardstick you use here. Zillow pegs the typical 48009 home value near $608,000, while Redfin's median sale price hit roughly $818,000 in May 2026, the gap reflects different methods and a thin, high-end sales count. Year-over-year, Redfin shows about +12.8% (and a volatile +31.1% spike reported in March 2026). Homes move fast: around 31 days on market in 2026, though luxury pockets like Quarton Lake Estates average closer to 41. Demand is driven by Birmingham Public Schools, walkability, and limited inventory in a built-out, desirable suburb.
Where to look
Birmingham neighborhoods
Quarton Lake Estates
Waterfront estates ringing Quarton Lake, averaging about 41 days on market. Prices run about $1,750,000 to $5,000,000.
Poppleton Park
(high $500Ks-$3,000,000): west of Woodward, architecturally distinctive homes from smaller cottages to large custom estates.
Pembroke Park
An east-side enclave bounded by Eton, Edenborough, Windemere and Buckingham. Prices run about $600,000 to $1,200,000.
In-Town / Downtown Birmingham
Walkable condos, townhomes and renovated historic homes steps from the shops, Booth Park and the Rouge River Trail. Prices run about $500,000 to $2,500,000 and up.
Holy Name / Mill Pond area
An established residential pocket near the city core. Prices run about $600,000 to $1,500,000.
Schools and commute
Commute
Downtown Detroit sits about 17 to 18 miles away, a 25 to 35 minute drive via Woodward Avenue (M-1) or I-75.
Michigan property taxes
Birmingham 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 Birmingham, our 2026 Uncapping Study found taxable value typically rises about 26% the year after a sale. On a $600,000 home, near the typical Birmingham value, that is roughly $2,360 more in first-year tax at the local median homestead millage. We build your payment on that post-sale number.
Looking at a Birmingham 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
County alone does not tell you much. We would never say you are in a particular county so here are your taxes. It does not work like that. We need the actual property.
Local resources
Check Birmingham records yourself
The official offices behind the tax and school details on this page.
- City of Birmingham Property Assessment Information, for parcel records and current taxable value
- Birmingham Public Schools, for district boundaries and enrollment
- Oakland County Treasurer, property taxes, for county property tax records
What our clients say
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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.
Individual experiences. Results vary.
Birmingham mortgage questions
If yours is not here, ask it on the call. There are no dumb questions.
What is the typical home price in Birmingham, MI 48009?
Birmingham is a high-priced market by Michigan standards. Zillow puts the typical home value around $608,000, while Redfin’s median sale price reached about $818,000 in May 2026. Entry condos start in the $400Ks and lakefront estates in Quarton Lake Estates can exceed $2 to 5 million.
How fast do homes sell in 48009?
Homes in 48009 sell quickly, about 31 days on market on average in 2026, similar to the prior year. Prime luxury pockets like Quarton Lake Estates average closer to 41 days, and well-priced in-town homes often go pending faster.
What are property taxes like in Birmingham?
The effective property tax rate is roughly 1.41%, above Michigan’s about 1.05% median. The median annual bill is about $8,329, though it varies widely with home value, from under $5,000 to over $13,000. Taxes are calculated as taxable value ÷ 1,000 × the local millage rate and fund Birmingham city, Birmingham Public Schools, Oakland County and state education.
Which school district serves Birmingham 48009?
The 48009 ZIP is served by Birmingham Public Schools, a district that also covers Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills, Franklin and parts of neighboring Bloomfield and Troy.
What’s the commute from Birmingham to downtown Detroit?
Downtown Detroit is roughly 17 to 18 miles away, typically a 25 to 35 minute drive via Woodward Avenue (M-1) or I-75. Birmingham’s walkable downtown, Shain Park concerts and about 300-shop retail district also make it a destination in its own right, not just a commuter suburb.
Communities near Birmingham
Oakland County overviewTalk with a local mortgage expert
Tell Samantha what you are trying to do in Birmingham and she will tell you what actually matters for your situation, including whether the timing is right.
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Tell us what you are trying to do
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She works out what matters most for you specifically.
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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.
