Ever dream of owning a fulltime residence or part-time vacation home with a view of Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes? Then read on. The Homestead’s Real Estate Manager, Diane Kemp, says that fall and winter is a great time for Northern Michigan home shopping in the heart of “America’s Most Beautiful Place.” Here, Kemp shares some insights on real estate options at The Homestead, market trends and her best tips for buyers (and sellers).  

Here’s a little inside secret for home buyers looking for the perfect Northern Michigan dream home: If you do a Google search for “Northern Michigan homes for sale” or “Lake Michigan waterfront property,” you’re not going to find real estate options at The Homestead or the name “Diane Kemp” at the top of the page. But dig a little deeper and what you’ll find is that Kemp—arguably the busiest real estate agent in Leelanau County—is the point person for home sales at a place for property-buyers looking for competitive prices, awesome variety, and incredible scenery all with a friendly and vibrant resort community built right in.

Whether you’re looking for a summer condominium, ski-season chalet, year-round woodsy retreat with a river of lakefront view, or a little piece land to build a dream vacation home, The Homestead offers the most diverse options in Northern Michigan real estate.For 19 years, Diane Kemp has watched the real estate market continually grow at 350-acre resort where there are roughly 1,000 residential properties. But this year, 2017, is going down in the books as one of her best ever.

“Maybe it has to do with people being distract last year by the presidential election,” she says. “But this year has been strong. We’re up around sixty-percent is sales over last year.”

According to Kemp, there are roughly 1,000 fractional and full-time property owners at The Homestead. In an average year, around 80 owners are looking to sell their home or share in a vacation home, which lead to some incredible value. “Every week, I compile a report that examines the market,” she says, “and a lot of what I’ve been seeing is a wave of interest in properties on the high and low end of market. There’s a lot of interest in properties connected to the water—specifically The Homestead’s water frontage along Lake Michigan that also offers views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes—followed by whole ownership in condominiums, single-family homes, fractional homes and, finally, vacant land where property owners can build.”

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Price To Sell

The oldest homes at The Homesteads are condominiums that date back to the 1970s. Most of the homes are a lot newer, usually no older than the 1990s. Regardless of the property, Kemp always advises sellers to advertise an asking price in line with the community market.

“If a seller has whole ownership,” she says, “having it staged and—in the case of older condominiums—investing in an update always helps. Or I tell sellers to price a property so that the buyer can do updates themselves.”

A Great Deal—Just A Phone Call Away

The Homestead’s beautiful location and amenities is sometimes a doubled-edge sword for potential homebuyers who think an ownership stake is financially out of reach. That’s a misconception, says Kemp.

“Because The Homestead has such a diverse selection of properties available for factional and whole ownership, there really are options to suit any home buyer’s lifestyle and budget.”

Whole ownership is just as the name implies—you’re the sole owner of the home and are responsible for everything from furnishings to upkeep. Fractional ownership stakes in existing properties range from $69k to $225k. Fractional ownership provides rights to the property for anywhere from four to 12 weeks every year and can be split between four to 12 families. Owners inherit a vocational schedule that rotates every year and they can trade weeks. Best part of all, with fractional ownership, homebuyers don’t have to worry about upkeep and maintenance of the property.

The Time To Buy Is Now

Summer is definitely the season for touring and shopping for Northern Michigan real estate. But Kemp the fall and winter are often the better time to buy a home put on the market by a motivated seller. “The market naturally slows down for the holidays,” she says. “But as the year winds down, I always encourage buyers to make an offer on a property they really want—especially in winter, a time when motivated sellers tend to be more flexible.”

Click here for the most current list of real estate offerings at The Homestead. To arrange a showing or to talk to the most knowledgeable and comprehensive source for all things resort related, call Diane Kemp at 231.334.5145 or via email: dkemp@thehomesteadresort.com.

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