Accessory Structure Zoning Amendment – Suttons Bay Township

Accessory Structure / Outbulding Zoning Amendment – Suttons Bay Township

Last week the Suttons Bay Township board approved zoning changes to prevent home owners in residential districts from constructing “accessory structures”, such as garages, outbuildings or pole buildings unless a residence is already constructed or is simultaneously constructed.

This zoning change will have a significant impact on many property owners and will surely affect the way people buy and sell vacant real estate within Suttons Bay Township and Leelanau County. For questions and concerns, please contact the Suttons Bay Township Zoning Administrator at 231-271-2722.

New Listing: Blackberry Ln, Suttons Bay, Leelanau County, MI

NEW LISTING - $49,000 - Blackberry Lane, Lot 4 - Suttons Bay, MI

This wonderful wooded, rolling, and exceptionally private building site is located in the charming year round Village of Suttons Bay! From this parcel’s quiet location you are within walking distance of Village parks, exceptional restaurants, boutiques, library, medical offices, waterfront sandy beaches, and a public marina! An ideal location to build a primary or vacation home! Property is surveyed and soil evaluations are complete. Call today for details!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS NEW LISTING!

1860 S Cherry Blossom Ln, Suttons Bay - SOLD

SOLD SUTTONS BAY WATER VIEW LISTING

1860 S Cherry Blossom Ln, Suttons Bay, Leelanau County, Michigan
SOLD by Oltersdorf Realty, LLC on 6-10-11
Asking Price: $326,000

This beautifully maintained 2,400 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 3 bath home offers open living and dining areas with vaulted ceilings;large kitchen with quality oak cabinetry, breakfast bar, and granite counter tops; oak flooring, ceramic tiled baths, 2 fireplaces, 2 car attachedgarage, large decks and a beautifully landscaped private yard with re-circulating pond! Wonderful area of quality homes offering West GrandTraverse Bay views, shared Bay frontage, and paved county maintained roads!

New Listing, 1806 E Kasson Rd, Cedar, Leelanau County, MI

NEW LISTING - $179,500 to $89,900 - 1806 E Kasson Rd, Cedar, MI - 19.92 Acres

This very private, beautifully wooded and rolling 20 acre parcel offers very interesting topography with a mix of pines and hardwoods, in a very desirable Leelanau County location! Easy access to the parcel is afforded off a paved low traffic, county maintained road, just 10 minutes west of Traverse City, near the Pere Marquette Forest. Owner has cleared an access to the northern half of the parcel and is including a 12x24 building. See our marketing packet below for other purchase options and multiple MLS numbers.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS NEW LISTING!

New Listing: 3509 S Center Hwy, Suttons Bay, MI, Leelanau County

NEW LISTING - $159,000 - 3509 S Center Hwy, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Leelanau County

Beautifully updated home situated in a convenient Leelanau County location only 15 minutes from Traverse City and 5 minutes from Suttons Bay.  Many quality features of this 2 bedroom, 1.75 bath home include:  Entirely new kitchen in 2006 with granite tile countertops and high end stainless steel appliances; refinished hardwood floors, solid antique doors, and original woodwork throughout; fresh paint inside and out, 2 car garage, private master bath, and 1.03 acres backing to the Leelanau TART Trail. The work has been completed for you to move-in immediately!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS NEW LISTING!

1334 Creswell Lane, Kewadin, Michigan, Antrim County - SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

SOLD WATERFRONT HOME

1334 Creswell Lane, Kewadin, Michigan, Antrim County
100' of private frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay
SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC on 4-28-2011
Asking Price: $495,000

Located on a private 1.10 acre wooded lot north of Elk Rapids in Antrim County this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home offered 2375 sq ft of finished living space. Additional features included: 100 feet of private water frontage on Grand Traverse Bay, recently remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, large master bedroom suite, screened porch, 2 car garage, and more!

2011 March YTD Sales Stats

 

I have calculated the updated 2011 year-to-date (1st quarter) recent home sales data and market sales trends for Leelanau County and have posted the information above. The home sales statistics compare housing sold in Leelanau County from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 to the same time period in 2010 and 2009. This includes the townships of Bingham, Centerville, Cleveland, Elmwood, Empire, Glen Arbor, Kasson, Leelanau, Leland, Solon, Suttons Bay, and the City of Traverse City within Leelanau County.

As you can see from the housing data, 2011 residential real estate sold in Leelanau County is already well ahead of 2010 and 2009 numbers in terms of average selling price, median sale price, houses sold, and total residential sales volume. Volume sold in Leelanau County is up 73% over 2009 at this time and houses sold has increased over 35%!

This report is based upon sales information obtained from the Traverse Area Multiple Listing Service from 2009-2011. Undisclosed sales are not included in the data. This is for basic review purposes only. All attempts for accuracy have been made but cannot be guaranteed.

-Jonathan Oltersdorf, Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

2011 March YTD Sales Data

 I have calculated the updated 2011 year-to-date (1st quarter) recent home sales data and market sales trends for Traverse City / Grand Traverse County and have posted the information above. The home sales statistics compare housing sold in Grand Traverse County from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 to the same time period in 2010 and 2009. This includes the townships of Acme, Blair, East Bay, Fife Lake, Garfield, Grant, Green Lake, Long Lake, Mayfield, Paradise, Peninsula, Union, Whitewater, and the City of Traverse City.

As you can see from the housing data, 2011 residential real estate sold in Grand Traverse County is very similar to 2010 in terms of average selling price, median sale price, houses sold, and total residential sales volume.

This report is based upon sales information obtained from the Traverse Area Multiple Listing Service from 2009-2011. Undisclosed sales are not included in the data. This is for basic review purposes only. All attempts for accuracy have been made but cannot be guaranteed.

-Jonathan Oltersdorf, Oltersdorf Realty, LLC

2010 Leelanau County Census Data

2010 Leelanau County Census Data

The 2010 census data has been released for all Michigan counties, townships, and cities. Leelanau County reported a 2.8% increase in residents from 2000-2010.

Resident Population

2000

2010

 % Change
       

Leelanau County

21,119

21,708

2.8%

Bingham township

2,425

2,497

3.0%  

Centerville township

1,095

1,274

16.3%  

Cleveland township

1,040

1,031

-0.9%  

Elmwood charter township

4,264

4,503

5.6%  

Empire township

1,085

1,182

8.9%  

Glen Arbor township

788

859

9.0%  

Kasson township

1,577

1,609

2.0%  

Leelanau township

2,143

2,027

-5.4%  

Leland township

2,029

2,043

0.7%  

Solon township

1,542

1,509

-2.1%  

Suttons Bay township

2,982

2,982

0.0%  

Traverse City City (pt.)

149

192

28.9%  


The above information above was posted on http://www.michigan.gov  and was pulled directly from the census data on 3/23/11. Every attempt for accuracy has been made but cannot be guaranteed.

Please visit http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-252541--,00.html  to download the full census data directly from the State of Michigan’s website.

2010 Grand Traverse County Census Data

2010 Grand Traverse County Census Data

The 2010 census data has been released for all Michigan counties, townships, and cities. Grand Traverse County gained the third most residents in Michigan from 2000-2010.
 

Resident Population

2000

2010

 % Change
       

Grand Traverse County

77,655

86,986

12.0%

Acme township

4,361

4,375

0.3%  

Blair township

6,455

8,209

27.2%  

East Bay township

9,919

10,663

7.5%  

Fife Lake township

1,517

2,791

84.0%  

Garfield charter township

13,841

16,256

17.4%  

Grant township

947

1,066

12.6%  

Green Lake township

5,009

5,784

15.5%  

Long Lake township

7,648

8,662

13.3%  

Mayfield township

1,263

1,550

22.7%  

Paradise township

4,192

4,713

12.4%  

Peninsula township

5,265

5,433

3.2%  

Traverse City City (pt.)

14,383

14,482

0.7%  

Union township

417

405

-2.9%  

Whitewater township

2,438

2,597

6.5%  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




The above information above was posted on http://www.michigan.gov  and was pulled directly from the census data on 3/23/11. Every attempt for accuracy has been made but cannot be guaranteed.

Please visit http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534-252541--,00.html  to download the full census data directly from the State of Michigan’s website.

Simple Tips For Better Home Showings

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

  

Is your house currently for sale but you aren't seeing the results you would like?
Do you want to sell your Traverse City or Leelanau County, Michigan home in 2011?

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Add a touch of color in the living room.  A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

If you are considering buying a home within Leelanau County or the Traverse City area in the next couple years you need to start thinking about your credit score! Your credit score will impact the interest rate that you will receive on your loan!

Credit scores range between 300 and 850, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. 723 is the median score in the U.S., but you can expect good mortgage interest rates at the 720 to 760 level and up.The following factors affect your score:

1. Your payment history. Did you pay your credit card obligations on time? If they were late, then how late? Bankruptcy filing, liens, and collection activity also impact your history.

2. How much you owe.  If you owe a great deal of money on numerous accounts, it can indicate that you are overextended. However, it’s a good thing if you have a good proportion of balances to total credit limits.

3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer you have had accounts opened, the better. The average consumer's oldest obligation is 14 years old, indicating that he or she has been managing credit for some time, according to Fair Isaac Corp., and only one in 20 consumers have credit histories shorter than 2 years.

4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay them promptly.

5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit — installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, visit www.myfico.com.

SOLD 3-1-11 12582 E Hendryx Dr, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 – 155’ Sandy West Grand Traverse Bay

12582 E Hendryx Dr, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
155' of sandy frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay
SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC 3-1-11
Asking Price: $800,000

Hendryx Dr is located on the finest stretch of beach between Northport and Traverse City.  This historic estate, built in 1893 offers 6 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, and 4043 square feet including a separate apartment in-law suite with fireplace. Relax on 155’ of rare deep sandy private beach frontage on West Grand Traverse Bay!

  

Sold 2-22-11 - 8860 E Donner Rd - Traverse City, MI

8860 E Donner Rd - Traverse City, MI 49684
10.00 Acres in Leelanau County
SOLD By Oltersdorf Realty, LLC 2-22-11
Asking Price: $98,000

10.00 acres of beautiful gradually rolling Leelanau County countryside located conveniently between Suttons Bay and Traverse City.  

Photo courtesy of Century 21 Northland. 

Crestwood Dr, Suttons Bay, MI SOLD

Crestwood Dr - Suttons Bay
Leelanau County,MI 49682
Sold 1-28-11

Rare Acreage Opportunity! This amazing 17 acres building site of mature hardwoods and pines in Suttons Bay Township offers a serene and private setting to build your year round or vacation home! Wonderful rural neighborhood minutes to the Village of Suttons Bay!

 

Listing and Selling office: OLTERSDORF REALTY, LLC

Oltersdorf Realty, LLC
/
Phone: (231)271-7777
E-Mail: RealEstate@Oltersdorf.com