Paul
From the MLS: BEACH . BEACH . BEACH! Amazing. Low dune Lake Michigan Lakefront on 100 feet of private beach! Very quiet and pristine, nature abounds. Year round cottage style home, redone in 2014. New plumbing, electrical, dry wall, kitchen, baths and flooring. Open floor plan with spacious kitchen and fantastic lake views. Great screened porch off kitchen and numerous decks. Year round fun in private serene location. Dig your feet in the sand!
Coming Soon. Watch my newsletter in the coming weeks for news about a one of a kind marketing solution for one of a kind homes.
From the MLS: Fantastic Harbor Country compound in Harbert - quality, classy & fun newer construction - loved and further embellished by current owner. Oversize pool & double screened porch - 3/4 bedrooms plus guest apartment - secreted away in the woods but only a block or two to an awesome Lake Michigan beach - All within 75 minutes of Chicago. Guesthouse square footage & bedroom is included in details of this listing. $1,495,000.
Always disregard the current taxes! Taxable value of property in MI is reassessed at time of purchase and then capped for as long as the new owner owns the property. Therefore, the current taxes will be very low compared to what you will pay, if the current owner acquired the property many years ago. Also, if the current owner has a homestead exemption, the current property tax bill for the current owner will be about 40% less than even the same owner will pay without the exemption.
For a quick estimate, I recommend using 2% of the purchase price to estimate your annual property tax bill. The amount estimated should be considered a worst case scenario. You will pay an annual amount that is as much as 2% of the value of your home. If it is located in the township, outside of city or village limits, it may go down to about 1.75%. Both numbers are without the homestead exemption which would lower it by more than 40%. One homestead exemption is available to residents of Michigan if the property is your primary residence. There are several ways to qualify, but claiming a homestead exemption on more than one property, in any state, is a sure way to be disqualified.
If you need professional guidance about the pros and cons of claiming a homestead exemption on your Michigan property, please ask me. I will connect you with experts who can help you make the best decisions.
Here is the link to the MI state tax calculator. Use 50% of purchase price for the SEV.
Read more about Michigan real estate taxes.
Attention builders and investors. We have been working with a shortage of new homes in this market. Demand continues to rise as Illinois residents prepare for retirement by purchasing new homes in Southwest Michigan. These affluent buyers are looking for new homes to use as their primary residence.
Many of these buyers are familiar with Michigan because they have vacationed here or have owned second homes here. They are moving here for the resort lifestyle but a cottage will no longer do. They want new homes with all the convenience and reliability only a new home can provide.
I've selected a few parcels for your consideration. All have waterfront, either on Lake Michigan or on inland lakes. At least one has it's own private lake. All are large enough to allow many homes to be built. Most are within 2 hours of Chicago.
Are you looking for land to develop. Check out my suggestions here.
From the MLS: BEACH . BEACH . BEACH! Amazing. Low dune Lake Michigan Lakefront on 100 feet of private beach! Very quiet and pristine, nature abounds. Year round cottage style home, redone in 2014. New plumbing, electrical, dry wall, kitchen, baths and flooring. Open floor plan with spacious kitchen and fantastic lake views. Great screened porch off kitchen and numerous decks. Year round fun in private serene location. Dig your feet in the sand!
Not all of my clients are billionaires and millionaires, but they are all VIPs to me. I just closed on this great little condo on the outskirts of New Buffalo. It's in a quiet location yet the shops on Whittaker St and the city beach are just a few blocks away.
From the MLS: Location is everything. This charming condo is located in the heart of New Buffalo, just a short distance to the beach as well as the Galien River Preserve, the Marina, and the Amtrak train. This unit is a 2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath with a detached garage and front & rear facing decks. With so much to offer and a park like setting, this is the perfect opportunity to own a home in New Buffalo, only 90 min to downtown Chicago and 45 minutes to Notre Dame.
Are you ready to make your next investment? Let's talk. I bet you'll be glad you did.
Life is but a dream in your very private, light-filled, 5000 sf house with 216 feet of Galien River footage at the exact bend in the river where there are the most magnificent year round views of the water, the surrounding acres of land, exquisite landscaping and the abundant natural vegetation and wildlife. The house's thoughtful design with a flexible floor plan and attention to custom details allows for supreme comfort and a variety of lifestyles for second home use or full time residency. Expansive windows, wood floors, use of marble, stone and tile, 3 fireplaces, built-ins, charming nooks and crannies, and extra storage enhance the ease of everyday life as well as the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the home. The first floor has a heart of the household kitchen opening to the family room and bayed window porch, MBR suite, a study (or 6th bedroom), DR, and a sweeping deck also riverside.
The lower level opens to a large terrace on the river and has 2 bedrooms, a rec. room, and exercise room. Two additional bedrooms are on the second floor.A winding path from the house leads to the nautical style boat house built for sports and boating equipment and with a studio/lookout tower at treetop height. For further recreation, there is the association tennis court, swimming pool and boat launch.Enjoy the sounds of silence broken only by the sounds of nature: the leaves rustling, the river rippling, a fishing line being cast, the birds chirping, and your kayak paddle slapping the water. Welcome to The Preserve, a gated community in the heart of New Buffalo, where you can be at home with nature inside and outside in a unique sanctuary providing a private, restorative, nurturing environment only 70 miles from downtown Chicago.