2020 Real Estate Market Comes In Like a Lion!

March is always an interesting time in 

Northern Michigan.  We are in that season "between" where there's just not enough snow or cold weather to enjoy winter activities but warmer days, cherry blossoms, and getting the docks in are still a ways off.  Typically it's a month where we start to get very busy talking to sellers about listing their properties come spring.  More than any year I can remember, we really need that inventory!  

We're coming out of our best January ever, had a strong February, and are on track to set another monthly sales record in March.  This was really unexpected with the middling weather keeping a lot of people from coming up north, but we're thrilled to see it and confident the momentum will continue into spring.  

The only thing holding the market back is a severe lack of inventory.  We've sold many of the listings we carried into the fall and are scrambling for ANYTHING to show potential buyers.  It's created a perfect scenario for sellers looking to take advantage of the strong market and maximize their sale price.  If you, or anyone you know is considering the sale of their property, there's never been a better time to sell in many of our markets.

Please contact a HomeWaters agent near you to find out the best way to ensure you make the most of the strong market.  We have a number of strategies that allow us to help sellers overcome some of the common concerns with listing their property: the thought of dozens of agents and their clients trampling through the house, figuring out the timing to ensure it works with a possible next purchase, and just dealing with the unknowns that are a part of any sale are all factors we can overcome with smart strategies and realistic expectations.  

Most of the forecasts we're looking at are calling for an early, warm spring.  Don't wait to contact your HomeWaters agent!  Learn more about all of our agents and brokers by clicking HERE.  We've assembled some of the finest agents in the business, all servicing their own local territory where they are the "go to" expert in their region. 

When's the Best Time to List?

When's the Best Time to List?

One of the most common questions we are asked by sellers is, "When is the best time to sell?"  The simple answer is RIGHT NOW!  It definitely won't sell if it isn't on the market. As a company, our busiest time of year for closings is the fall and winter each year. Most sellers assume that the spring and summer months are the best time, but that's not always the case. Life slows down a bit in the fall, and this gives buyers more time to be on the lookout.

We find that there are real advantages to putting your property on the market regardless of the time of year.  First, there are always some buyers out there looking for just the right property.  When a good fit hits the market, they're going to go take a look regardless of the season.  Second, the most serious buyers shop year-round, or are motivated by need.  If someone has a change in job and must move to a new town, they will have to buy something quickly so you should make sure your home is on the market and considered.  Third, and maybe most important to think about, is the fact that you're likely to have the most competition during the summer months when everyone else is trying to sell.  On the shoulder seasons there are fewer listings and that helps your home stand out.  Lastly, the process can take some time, even in a perfect scenario.  The lending process can take a month.  If you happen to find the right buyer in the first 30 days, then get the loan process going and hold onto possession of the property for 30 days after closing, you're looking at a selling process that will take three months, give or take.

If you've been considering the sale of your home or cottage, contact the HomeWaters agent or broker in your area today to be sure you are in the best position to get it sold so you can move on to the next adventure in your life!  Click HERE for information on our agents and brokers and their areas of service.

HomeWaters Real Estate launches new commercial division

HomeWaters Real Estate launches new commercial division

Joe Sarafa to head new division

New, most complete commercial property search in N. Michigan

Traverse City, MI – Homewaters LLC is pleased to announce the launch of HomeWaters Commercial to satisfy client demand for commercial representation throughout northern Michigan. Joe Sarafa will head the new division, drawing on his deep background in commercial development and management. Central to the new division, HomeWaters created the most complete online commercial search available in northern Michigan. The new commercial search automatically imports listing data from six area associations, allowing clients to view every business opportunity for sale or lease in the region in one place.

HomeWaters Commercial, under the guidance of Sarafa, will represent buyers and sellers for sale and lease transactions, and provide up-to-date information on market conditions, demographics, recent zoning changes, financing, and the newest commercial developments in the area.

“For 13 years, HomeWaters has been synonymous with the marketing and sale of waterfront and recreational properties in Michigan's vacation areas. Over that time, we've forged very strong relationships with many of our clients who also have commercial interests in the region.  More and more often those folks have asked us to represent them in their commercial ventures and we recognized there's a need in the region for high quality real estate services in the commercial segment,” said Chad Brown, HomeWaters Real Estate Broker/Owner. “Joe has an impressive background in commercial real estate, with the connections and know-how to service our clients well.”

Joe Sarafa currently manages 70 tenants and over 640,000 square feet of commercial space throughout the state of Michigan. He is a member of the Commercial Board of Realtors, Traverse Area Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.

HomeWatersReal Estate is a lifestyle firm that partners with only the finest Realtors and equips them with the resources and knowledge necessary to become the one resource for today’s real estate buyers and sellers. Homewaters LLC was founded in 2006 primarily representing waterfront and recreational properties, and client demand has prompted the development of three satellite brands under which marketing is tailored to a variety of niche markets.

What's New at Home Waters

Expanded Capacity, the PM, and

French Road Acreage:

Check out what's new at Home Waters!

https://conta.cc/2Km3gWL

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LAKEFRONT LIVING AT IT'S BEST ON ONE OF 90 CLEAN LAKES IN KALKASKA COUNTY

 Kalkaska County is home to some of the cleanest fresh water inland lakes in the state of Michigan. We in Kalkaska County take our water quality very seriously. Many of our lakes have lakeowner associations for a small fee which monitor the water quality from year to year and make adjustments or remediate invasive aquatic species. There is an abundance of government and private environmental agencies in the county providing knowledge and access to resources.

Our "quiet" or "no wake" lakes are perfect for fishing, kayaking or cruising on a small pontoon. Some of the more popular are Eagle Lake, N. Blue Lake, Little Twin Lake, Squaw Lake, Indian Lake or Cub Lake. In the last 12 months sales on these lakes are commanding prices anywhere from $120,000 - $540,000 with an average sale price of $234,000.

Our "all sports" lakes allowing for wakes from jet skis and larger boats are spectacularly clean and up to 86 feet in depth. These lakes include Starvation Lake, Big Twin Lake, Big Blue Lake, Bear Lake, and Manistee Lake. Homes on these lakes are commanding prices of $149,000 to $675,000 with an average sale price of $238,000.  These lakes are low pressure usage and are great lakes for the kids and grandkids to make memories.

That leaves another 70+ lakes in the county of various sizes and depths. I personally live on a small quiet lake just 1 mile outside Kalkaska that is visited regularly by Loons, Great Blue Heron and Eagles. There is a lakefront home in Kalkaska to satisfy almost every budget. Kalkaska County has a wonderful Hospital owned by Munson Medical Center, the Kaliseum Recreational Complex, safe in town walking and biking trails, Conservancy properties to hike on and all the necessities of good living in a small rural village. We are surrounded by thousands of acres of state land with some of the best hunting and fishing in Northern Michigan. In addition, Traverse City, I-75 and US-131 expressways are all within a 25 minute drive.

If you are looking to hire a passionate professional real estate sales agent in Kalkaska County, I am your girl! I have lived in Kalkaska 21 years and have sold waterfront real estate here for 16 years.  I do not carry a large inventory so that I am available for my clients in either the selling or buying sides of the transaction. My goal is to always have happy satisfied clients at the end of a transaction who will refer me to their friends and neighbors. Please visit my website  to learn more about me. I would be happy to have a conversation with you about our current real estate market whether you are buying or selling.

Mary Janik, mary@homewaters.net, 231-384-1207

Gladwin & Clare County Real Estate Market Snapshot for October

October Real Estate Market Snapshot for Gladwin and Clare County Area Homes

Featured Listing

Gladwin Home in Sugar Springs!

1638 Perth Court, Gladwin
$78,900
MLS #168395

Active Listings: 543 (53 new listings came on the market in October)

Average Asking Price: $117,383

Average Days on Market : 191

Range of Asking Prices: $10,000 - $739,000

Sold: 88 Sold in October 1 more than September)

Average Asking Price of Sold Listings: $105,971

Average Selling Price of Sold Listings: $97,672

Average Days on Market of Sold Listings: 140 (up 17 from September)

Sellers Received: 92.1% of their asking price       

Total Residential Sales Volume: $8,174,500 (down from $8,348,051 in September)

Listings Sold by Price Range

0-99,999: 55 (up 3 from September)

100,000-199,999: 27 (down 1 from September)

200,000-299,999: 3 (down 3 from September)

300,000-399,999: 3 (up 2 from September)

400,000 and above: 0 (same as September)   

SOLD!! Wixom Lake Waterfront Home!!  

**61 Homes Expired off the Market in October

Absorption Rate = 3 months

Top 5 Reasons Lake Mitchell should be Your new Home Waters

Check out the sunsets! If you aren't convinced already, below are 10 reasons Lake Mitchell is as good as it gets in the great Up North!

1. 2580 acres of fertile fishing ground for bass, walleye, panfish, and the northern pike. With varying depths, the lake has 10-12ft typical weedline. Fishing is great year round!

2. Connected to Lake Cadillac by the historic canal, this creates over 3700 acres of vacation like lifestyle. Boating, fishing, and beaches galore! Come check out the lake breezes in your hair while you drink your morning coffee or enjoy an evening bonfire.

3.  Cadillac offers great dining (Hermann's European Cafe, Blue Heron, Lakeside Charlies, Passage North), boutiques downtown (Blossom, Serendipity), big box stores at the North end, two breweries (Clam Lake, Raven Brewing - coming soon!) and wine tasting rooms (Cadillac Winery tasting room, Rosa Blanca, Table 212)! The updated Rotary Arts Pavilion offers lots of entertainment in the warm weather months, and you can even rent it to watch your own projected movie! The Commons offers lush landscaping, a splash pad, and gorgeous fire pit for a picnic or hosting a gathering. The Commons hosts many of the area's festivals. Parks, trails, and recreation entertainment galore!

4. Mitchell State Park offers great sandy beachfront on Lake Mitchell for additional/overflow visitors! Or just to stop for a picnic. Campers enjoy beautiful views, canal fishing, Carl T Johnson center just across the road, and a new Launch by the Cadillac Leadership team for kayaks and canoes!

5. Not just a summer destination!! In the colder Michigan months, Lake Mitchell is an awesome location for ice fishing or skating! It's also just minutes from Caberfae Ski resort, miles and miles or cross country ski trails and snowmobile trails! Don't forget the North American Snowmobile Festival hosted in Cadillac.

Check out this home on Lake Mitchell that could be yours!! Click here for more information.


If this isn't your dream home, but you're certain Lake Mitchell is a contender in the search for your Home Waters, click here for more Lake Mitchell real estate.