Grand Rapids Carries the Higher Limit
Program and regulatory figures verified September 26, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Kent County is split too, and its targeted income limits are the highest of any split county in the state's big metros.
Kent County's two sets of figures
| Targeted Kent places | Rest of Kent County | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit, 1–2 people | $127,920 | $106,600 |
| Income limit, 3 or more | $149,240 | $122,590 |
| Repeat buyers | Eligible | Not eligible |
The City of Grand Rapids, the City of Kentwood and the Village of Kent City are among the targeted places MSHDA names in the county. Targeted-area status is determined by MSHDA at city and township level and must be confirmed for the specific address.
Notice how the county compares with the other split counties. Kent's targeted limit of $127,920 sits above Wayne, Oakland and Macomb at $125,760 and well above the targeted floor of $118,080 that applies in Genesee. Kent County has the most generous income test among the big metros' split counties.
The number that should change your thinking
Grand Rapids' typical home value rose 4.9% year over year to $357,283 in Zillow's August 2026 data. That is the fastest of Michigan's large metros: Detroit managed 2.1% and Ann Arbor 2.5% over the same period.
What that means practically is that the cost of waiting is higher here than elsewhere in the state. We are not going to tell you to rush, and market data describes the past rather than predicting the future. But a household that is eligible now and plans to buy in two years should at least run the arithmetic on what a 4.9% year does to the same house.
| Metro | Typical value | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $357,283 | +4.9% |
| Holland | $348,045 | +4.8% |
| Kalamazoo | $278,194 | +4.4% |
| Ann Arbor | $416,914 | +2.5% |
| Detroit | $267,167 | +2.1% |
West Michigan as a whole is running hotter than the southeast. Holland at 4.8% and Kalamazoo at 4.4% tell the same story as Grand Rapids.
The price cap and a $357,283 market
At a typical value of $357,283 the $566,355 sales price limit leaves $209,072 of headroom, so the cap does not bind on ordinary Grand Rapids purchases. It could on a specific house in the more expensive pockets, which is worth a check rather than an assumption if you are shopping at the top of the market. The price limit.
Who the split matters to
A couple earning $115,000 clears the targeted Kent limit of $127,920 and fails the non-targeted $106,600. A household that sold a house last year qualifies inside Grand Rapids and does not in a non-targeted township. Both situations are common in this metro and both turn entirely on the address.
Send us the addresses you are weighing and we will check each one's status. Send them over.
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Every county figure · the assistance · repeat buyers · the full test.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand Rapids a MSHDA targeted area?
The City of Grand Rapids is among the targeted places MSHDA names in Kent County, along with the City of Kentwood and the Village of Kent City. Inside those places repeat homebuyers are eligible and the income limit is $127,920 for a one to two person household against $106,600 elsewhere in the county. Targeted-area status is determined by MSHDA at city and township level and must be confirmed for the specific address.
What is the MSHDA income limit in Grand Rapids?
$127,920 for a one to two person household and $149,240 for three or more, effective June 1, 2026. Those are the highest targeted figures among the split counties containing Michigan's large metros, above Wayne, Oakland and Macomb at $125,760. Non-targeted Kent County is $106,600 and $122,590, a difference of $21,320 for the smaller household.
Are Grand Rapids home values rising?
Grand Rapids' typical home value rose 4.9% year over year to $357,283 in Zillow's August 2026 data, the fastest of Michigan's large metros against Detroit at 2.1% and Ann Arbor at 2.5%. Holland at 4.8% and Kalamazoo at 4.4% show the same pattern across west Michigan. Typical values describe the past rather than predict the future, so treat them as context and not a forecast.
Does the MSHDA price limit work in Grand Rapids?
Comfortably at typical values. The limit is $566,355 statewide and Grand Rapids' typical value was $357,283 in August 2026, leaving $209,072 of headroom. It could bind on a specific house at the top of the market, so it is worth confirming on an individual property rather than assuming, but it does not constrain ordinary purchases in this metro.
Can a repeat buyer use MSHDA in Grand Rapids?
Yes, inside the targeted places. MSHDA's limits sheet states that targeted areas may be a first-time homebuyer or repeat homebuyer, and the City of Grand Rapids is one of the targeted places named in Kent County. In a non-targeted part of the county the first-time definition applies instead, meaning not having owned a home in the previous three years.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. MSHDA program terms, income limits and sales price limits are set by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them against MSHDA's published documents. Targeted-area status is determined by MSHDA at city and township level and must be confirmed for the specific address. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.