Staging Tips to Get Your Northern Michigan On The Market

Selling your home requires more than simply sticking a "For Sale" on the front curb and hoping for the best. With a little bit of work and some affordable enhancements, you could be saving yourself loads of time and money in the long run. The last thing any seller wants is for their home to linger in the market for too long and become stale, so here are a few easy ways to get your home in great shape and ready to please prospective buyers.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CURB APPEAL
Before a buyer sets foot in your door, they have to pass through the front yard first. As with many things in life, making a good first impression is the first barrier to successfully showing your home. That initial impression will be hard to change unless…

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Ironton Ferry – Scenic Rides Across Lake Michigan

Experience the Timeless Ironton Ferry

Ironton Ferry is a four-car cable ferry that crosses a narrow point on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix in the U.S. state of Michigan in the unincorporated community of Ironton.  The Ferry connects Ironton, located about 5 miles from Charlevoix, Michigan, to Boyne City, Michigan.  The ferry crosses the lake about 100 times a day.  The current vessel went into service in 1925.  The ferry is 50 feet long, 30 feet wide, and weighs 43 tons. 

It's powered by a diesel engine with a hydraulic drive system that features propellers at both ends. Two different cables are guiding the ferry since it doesn't have any rudders.  The slack in the cables drops 25 feet below the surface to allow boats to pass. The ferry has the…

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Keys to Buying A Vacation Home

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10 Vacation Rental Management Tips | Northern Michigan

Northern Michigan Escapes Ultimate Guide: 10 Strategies – Master short-term rental management with expert tips on pricing, marketing, and guest experience to maximize ROI.

Northern Michigan Escapes - We began with one home and one idea

Our Founder Brook Walsh and his wife, Rachel, realized they could provide better and more cost-effective services to homeowners than other property managers could, A LOT better.

Brook used his background as a Chief Information Officer, and a customer-first approach to business, to make vacation rentals easier and better for both guests and homeowners—that’s how Northern Michigan Escapes was born. 

Our Vacation Rental Management Program

Northern Michigan Escapes is all about creating seamless,…

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Is A Homeowner Association (HOA) Good for Me?

If you’re shopping for a new home to lease or purchase in Northern Michigan, you may wonder whether homeowner’s associations are worth your while.

It’s usually easy to educate yourself about what specific HOA communities provide and allow. Before taking the financial plunge, take some time to learn about what Northern Michigan HOA communities offer.

To some, the benefits of having a quality HOA far outweigh the fees and restrictions. Paying a simple, recurring fee can mean time saved from menial tasks, more fun activities to do around your community and no obscure-looking houses or fences that are a blight on the surrounding community, spoiling the immaculate beauty of the rest of the neighborhood.

On the other hand, some believe HOA…

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The Challenges of Home Insurance

Homeowners should know what is generally covered before submitting a claim. However, all too often a claim is denied or homeowners find out that coverage is surprisingly lacking. Those that have been subject to floods have often found far too late that food damage is not covered in a standard policy. This is why it is important to learn more about home insurance. Depending on the area and typical weather conditions, homeowners may want to expand their coverage to avoid a potential issue. What are some of the common home insurance issues? (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

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Disruptive Technology: Building Homes for the Future

Chances are good that robotics, drone imagery, and digitized collaboration will play a large part in the design and construction of future homes and business structures, and a variety of other construction improvements may not be far behind. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

Already, there is some evidence that buildings of the future may be constructed of "self-healing materials" and that plant-based component will create new design and energy flexibility. Tomorrow's built environment may not resemble today's buildings any more than the great stone structures of the past have anything in common with today's steel and glass high-rises. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle…

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SOLD: 615 Harbor View Lane Petoskey, MI 49770 - $840,000

SOLD: 615 Harbor View Lane Petoskey, MI 49770 - $840,000
MLS# 453709 - Gorgeous Home in Petoskey, Michigan Sold

Brook Walsh's Client Sells Petoskey Estate in Exclusive Harbor View Hills for $840,000!

It was a very challenging negotiation for Brook Walsh, NorthernMichiganEscapes.com founder, and Associate Broker for BrookWalsh.com. His client wanted to get top dollar on their sale and the buyer wasn't comfortable with that price. Eventually, Brook used his real estate investment expertise to successfully negotiate the sale with the buyer through their agent.  (Click here to see all Petoskey, Michigan Homes for Sale)

Gorgeous custom-built 7,400 sq ft home with panoramic views of Little Traverse Bay. It of a kind home with many high-end finishes…

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Home Inspections 101: What Every First-Time Buyer Should Know

You finally found the perfect Northern Michigan home.

The house checks all your boxes: it is the right style and size, has an entertaining kitchen, and even boasts an awesome master bedroom. To make things even better, your offer was accepted by the homeowner. Congratulations!

You’re one step closer to owning your first home. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

The next step in your home buying journey is the home inspection. The job of a home inspector is to provide interested homebuyers an unbiased report about the utility and safety of the home they are preparing to purchase. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

While a home inspection is not required, it is highly…

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Does Your Northern Michigan Home Attract Today’s Top Buyers?

Compared to previous generations, millennials have been cautious to enter the real estate market. Coming of age right at the most spectacular housing boom and bust in modern history—the 2008 Recession—made for a generation of observant and media-savvy homebuyers. But the tide is finally turning. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle Homes for Sale)

Based on recent data from Nationwide Mortgages, 66.1% of Millennials report that they plan to buy a home in the next 5 years. Are you ready for this dynamic demographic of a homebuyer?

It’s good news for the real estate world that 65.3% of millennials associate home buying with achieving the American Dream. That’s more than any other generation! Millennials put a high…

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