Home Ownership Matters

Home ownership has a significant impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health, and overall quality of life. And, home ownership helps create jobs—lots of them—right here at home.

Home Ownership matters…to people, to communities, and to America. Why? For every two homes sold, one job is created in the U.S. Each purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time. Read More...

Staying Cool with a Metal Roof

Are you intrigued with the idea of replacing your existing roof with a standing-seam metal roof? It should last a lot  longer than the shingle alternatives, and it would be compatible with photovoltaic panels should you decide to add them in the future.

You may also like metal roofing — for its durability, recyclability, and ease of removal if the need arises. But can a metal roof save energy? Will that light-colored asphalt roofing material perform similarly, with or without ventilation?

Indeed there is. A products directory maintained by the Cool Roof Rating Council lists solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity values for hundreds of brands of roofing. The difference in energy performance is due to more than just the color of the roofing. The paint that the metal companies apply to the metal has added chemicals that are designed to reflect infrared wavelengths. Most metal companies will list these ratings under each color. There exists a "cool roof" tax credit and a website for approved metal roofs. Read more...

More Good News About Our Real Estate Market

According to the Traverse City Record Eagle in today's edition, "Existing home sales continued to surge in the 5-county area, and sale prices also are starting to rebound.

April home sales totaled 206 across Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim and Kalkaska counties, according to data from the Traverse Area Association of Realtors. That's a 14 percent increase from March totals and up 31 percent from April 2011.

The value of those transactions totaled more than $38.3 million, with nearly $21 million of that from Grand Traverse County. Leelanau totaled just over $5.2 million, while Benzie and Antrim were near $4.5 million in total sales."

Home Sales Heat Up

Temperatures, Average Selling Price, and Home Sales Heat Up Across Michigan

April housing sales continued a positive trend across the state with 72% of the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) reporting increased sales and increased selling prices. Both home sales units and average selling prices for April, 2012 increased over April, 2011. According to the MLS reports compiled by the Michigan Association of REALTORS®, 10,136 single-family homes were sold in April, 2012, an increase of 3.46% over April, 2011 while the April 2012 average sales price was $104,058, an increase of 9.72% for the same time last year.

April was an exceptional month for 13 of Michigan’s MLSs who reported an increase in average sales price of 20%+.

Critical Dunes Act

Lawmakers Introduce Major Improvements to Critical Dunes Act

Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-Olive Township) and Representative Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) have introduced legislation, Senate Bill 1130 and House Bill 5647 respectively, aimed at applying a less subjective approach to critical dune regulation. REALTORS®, builders, and property owners living and working within the critical dunes can attest to the fact that the application of the Critical Dunes Act has been inconsistent and frustrating for many years.

The changes proposed by Senator Meekhof and Representative Bumstead, supported by both the MAR and the Michigan Association of Home Builders, are the product of lengthy negotiation and agreement with the Department of Environmental Quality.  Heretofore, the private property within the critical dunes area has been subject to significant red tape, inconsistent treatment, and often outright prohibition in terms of development and the exercise of private property rights. Efforts as simple as permitting driveway access to an owner’s property have been stifled due to a lack of clarity on how the law should be applied. Read More...

Traverse Area Market Monitor

Home Prices Rise

According to the National Association of Realtors, prices for single-family homes climbed in half of U.S. cities in the first quarter as the real estate market stabilizes.

The median sales price increased from a year earlier in 74 of 146 metropolitan areas measured, the National Association of Realtors said in a report today.

The U.S. housing market is showing signs of bottoming as improving employment and record-low mortgage rates boost demand while inventories of available properties tighten. At the end of March, 2.37 million previously owned homes were available for sale, 22 percent fewer than a year earlier.

Among the bigger leaders, prices rose 19 percent in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Property For Sale

412 N Saint Joseph St • Suttons Bay, MI 49682

Beach Pad or Retail

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Details Lot Size: 0.17 AC Property Type: Commercial Sub Type: Office/Retail Interior Sq Ft: 1572 SF Parking: 7 (Public) Use Type: Residential / Commercial Traffic: High (M-22) Visibility: High (M-22) Desc Prime location in Suttons Bay Village to live or work. Property and/or business for sale. Use property as a loft style beach pad where all the action is, expand your own business or take over this turnkey retail space. You can buy the Anchor Cottage buiness too. It is an adorable shop with all the wares needed to deck out a summer cottage or up north home. Its been in business five years and well known throughout the Leelanau and Grand Traverse area. Features Water View Central AC French Doors Free Standing Grass & Landscaping Curb Cut Across From Marina Park & BATA Bus Stop Contact Agent: Carole Higgins Office: (231) 994-3225 x103 Mobile: (231) 633-2577

Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike: From Sand Trails to US-31

Join authors Christine Byron and Tom Wilson at the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library for a nostalgic road trip down the old West Michigan Pike, now US-31. This historic road was the first continuous, improved route between Michigan City and Mackinaw City. The road along the Lake Michigan coast opened West Michigan to automobile travel and tourism. The authors depict the adventure and romance of motoring showing vintage postcards, photographs, maps, and ephemera to illustrate this journey. Time-travel with them through the beautiful West Michigan landscape and quaint towns to hotels and cabins, tourist camps and state parks, and other stops along the road.

This event is scheduled for May 31st at 7 pm. 

Saving Our Birds

Please support Saving Birds Thru Habitat established to help stem the decline of our migratory songbird populations. Saving Birds Thru Habitat teaches people of all ages how to protect, enhance and restore habitat for North American birds. Their Habitat Discovery Center grounds offer lessons on how to do just that. The SBTH center is adjacent to a 44-acre private conservation effort, Charter Sanctuary, which has hosted more than sixty nesting species. A hundred additional species use the property for foraging during migration. Saving Birds Thru Habitat has the exclusive use of this sanctuary for field trips.

Property For Sale

S. Donnybrook Rd • Suttons Bay, MI 49682

1.05 Acres

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Details # Units: 1 # Lots: 1 Lot Size: 43,5600 SF Property Type: Vacant Land Sub Type: Residential Min Divisible: 43,5600 SF Max Contiguous: 43,560 SF Use Type: Single Family Home Terrain: Rolling Desc Secluded partially wooded lot. Overlooks W Traverse Bay. Located on Stoney Point in Suttons Bay - midway up on the majestic Leelanau Penninsula in Northern Michigan. Features High Bluff Water View Electricity Telephone High Speed Internet Natural Gas Shared Water Access   Contact Agent: Carole Higgins Office: (231) 994-3225 x103 Mobile: (231) 633-2577

Property For Sale

N. Swede Rd • Northport, MI 49670

30 Acres

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Details # Units: 1 # Lots: 3 Lot Size: 43,5600 SF Property Type: Vacant Land Sub Type: Agricultural Min Divisible: 43,5600 SF Max Contiguous: 130,680 SF Use Type: Residential / Agricultural Terrain: Rolling Desc Secluded heavily wooded lot. Shared access road if lot is divided. Located northeast of Omena Village - midway up on the majestic Leelanau Penninsula in Northern Michigan. Features Seasonal Water View Electricity Telephone   Contact Agent: Carole Higgins Office: (231) 994-3225 x103 Mobile: (231) 633-2577

Green Landscapes With Native Plants

Green building begins in the ground

A landscape is more than a bunch of plants arranged to look good. A well-designed landscape can lower heating and cooling costs, reduce stormwater runoff and recharge local aquifers. And it can be good for birds, bees, and neighboring trees. Read on ...