What is a Legacy Property?

 In a recent conversation with a client I used the term "Legacy Property" to describe a lodge they were purchasing on The Au Sable River.  I had never really given too much thought to the origin of the term until the client asked if it was something I coined or if it was an industry term. While it's not necessarily an industry term, I've had the opportunity to use it to accurately describe a property of exceptional character, quality or location worthy of passing down through the generations of one's family.   A quick look on dictionary.com provided a basic definition and really the purpose behind the use of this term when describing a specific property.

legacy

 (ˈlɛɡəsɪ)

n, pl -cies

1. (Law) a gift by will, esp of money or personal property

2. (Law) something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor

The average individual purchases or sells a property every 5 years.  That's fantastic news for REALTORS because it means we'll have the opportunity to work with clients again and again so long as we represent them well and provide a valuable service.  What I love more than anything, though, is selling a property that I'll likely only sell once in my lifetime.  There are certain properties so unique in setting, character or construction that families will do everything in their power to ensure that future generations of their own family will be able to enjoy the lifestyle afforded by that particular property.

In this case I was using the term to describe a truly unique 1920's era cedar sided lodge situated along a secluded stretch of the Au Sable River's North Branch.  Seen through the eyes of some, it was in need of way too much work.  The original windows needed some glazing repair, the roof had reached its life expectancy and there were some electrical and other mechanical issues that needed to be resolved.  

Seen through the eyes of the eventual buyer, who was seeking a property to build and pass memories to his outdoors loving children, this was IT.  Original pegged wood floors, the big dining room surrounded by those vintage windows, the setting to the river providing the perfect level of privacy from the water while still allowing a view to check for a hatch.  It all added up to making it the property that would allow them to enjoy each others company in a way that other properties simply couldn't.  The previous owner was able to share the property with three generations of their own family members where they learned to hunt, fish and play cribbage.  It's now another family's turn to make their own memories that will gradually fill the picture frames along the walls.

If you're in the hunt for not just a cottage or lot on the river, but a true Legacy Property, we'd love to help you find that special place.  There are actually a couple available right now that meet that definition and we'd love to introduce them to your family.  

 Located on the very private Au Sable River South Branch below Smith Bridge, this property offers a level of privacy seldom found today.  The land was part of the original George Mason estate that was later gifted to the caretaker of that property.  The modern home was built in a style reminiscent of lodges of the western United States.  A huge workshop and guest quarters round out this truly exceptional estate.  This area of The South Branch flows over a beautiful cobble bottom and is home to brilliantly colored brook trout and large browns.  Click HERE for details.

Away from the clang of commercial canoe traffic and in an area of other estate sized parcels, this maturely wooded 20 acre parcel on The Au Sable River's North Branch is certainly a worthy site for a charming cottage or spectacular dream home.  More than 800' of frontage on both sides of the river and a perfectly elevated site make this even more special.  This area of The North Branch, near the confluence with the main stream, flows briskly over a mostly gravel bottom and offers plenty of deep structure to hold trophy trout.  Click HERE for details.