Trending
ESCANABA -- InvestUP has launched the Upper Peninsula Rent Study in partnership with three of the U.P.’s regional planning organizations, Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development (CUPPAD), Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development, and Western U.P. Planning & Development Region (WUPPDR). The new regional survey is intended to provide a more comprehensive picture of rental housing conditions across the U.P.
The survey is open to landlords, property managers, and rental property owners throughout the Upper Peninsula. Participants will be asked to share basic information about current rents, unit types, vacancies, and the realities of operating rental housing in the region. The goal is to create a regionally coordinated rental market dataset that reflects actual on-the-ground conditions across the Upper Peninsula. Publicly available data on U.P. rents is limited and often outdated. Without direct input from the people who own and manage rental housing, housing assessments are often built on estimates, which leaves decisions about funding incentives, and new development to be made without a full understanding of local market conditions.
"This study is about getting better information from the people closest to the rental market," said Jeff Hagan, CEO of Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development. "Landlords and property managers understand the realities of operating rental housing in the U.P. better than anyone. Their input will help make sure future housing strategies are based on what is actually happening in our communities, not assumptions."
Individual responses will remain confidential. Results will be reported only in aggregate form, and no property, owner, or individual rent will be identified. The survey is not connected to taxes, property assessments, rent control, or any regulatory process.
Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP, explains, "This is not a regulatory effort in any way. It is a necessary step toward better housing decisions. Accurate rental data helps communities and developers understand where there is real unmet demand, where the market is already working, and where future investment can make the most sense."
The survey will also help future housing investments better align with local conditions. Stronger data can help prevent decisions based on guesswork, including projects that may not reflect actual demand or may compete unnecessarily with existing well-functioning rentals.
Respondents will receive a copy of the aggregated findings once the survey closes. The report will include average rents by unit type, vacancy patterns, and other local market data that is not currently available in one coordinated regional source. The Upper Peninsula Rent Study is now open at investupmi.com/landlordsurvey/ and will close Monday, August 31.