Real Estate Statistics
| Average Price | $492K |
|---|---|
| Lowest Price | $57K |
| Highest Price | $2.7M |
| Total Listings | 24 |
| Avg. Days On Market | 140 |
| Avg. Price/SQFT | $308 |
Property Types (active listings)
Browse Empire Homes for Sale
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Check out this video for a look at Empire, Michigan, or click here to learn more about life in Empire.
Empire Homes for Sale
Empire is a great place to live, work, and play. With its breathtaking scenery, Empire has become one of the most desired places in Michigan for people looking to buy homes. It is a beautiful place to live with the perfect balance of city and country life. If you're interested in buying or selling property in this area, then you should take a look at all that Empire has to offer. There is something available at every price point because of this, making it easy to choose your home.
History
Empire, in northern Michigan, was first settled in 1875. After the lumber boom, which began around 1880 and ended about 1890, homes were built there for people who worked at the Empire Mill. At that time, Empire was considered a company town by its owner.
In 1881 the mill began producing spruce lumber for shipment to Chicago and Milwaukee where it would be used in making pianos. From then on, many workers spent their days at the sawmill or cutting railroad ties which were shipped all over America.
Home Sales Prices
The housing market is diverse, with many different styles of houses available to suit any budget and family size. There are larger custom-built homes as well as smaller starter properties that would be perfect for a young couple or someone looking to downsize. The wide range of home prices means you'll find something that fits your needs within your price range.
The most expensive home for sale in Empire, Michigan, has a listed price of $74,000. This home is located on South Grenville Street and offers four bedrooms and one bathroom, and 1800 square feet of living area.
The least expensive real estate for sale here comes at a list price of only $14,900. It's important to remember that this isn't necessarily the lowest priced property as it can be changed by condition or location—anything could affect the final selling price. So don't worry too much about what you see now because there may still be something even better available for less money than advertised today.
There are many different housing options in Empire including condominiums for sale, downtown homes for sale, land lover homes for sale, luxury homes for sale, and waterfront homes for sale.
The median price for a home in Empire, Michigan, is $45,000. This means half of the homes listed go for more and half sell for less than that amount—so it's a great place to start your search. The median household income in Empire Michigan is $35,000 per year—lower than some communities but not too wrong either. The average home price here is around $45,000, so it sits at the middle point between low and high incomes, making it appealing to many types of buyers across different income levels.
Location
Empire is located directly between Traverse City and Cadillac along US-131 (Mile Post 69), approximately one mile south of M-55 (US 31). It's 12 miles west of Interlochen with about 100 residents who are employed mainly in agriculture, forestry, tourism-related trades with some still working at the local mill/sawdust plant. The Empire Mill is open to the public and offers daily tours.
Condominiums For Sale
If you're looking for condos in Empire MI, there are several to choose from including the Lake Osprey condominiums with one- and two-bedroom floor plans offered at affordable prices complete with a heated pool, fitness center, hot tub; while still being close to major freeways making your commute that much easier. The price range for the condos in this community range from $99,000 to $140,000.
Empire Community Highlights
With its great location and beautiful scenery, Empire has become a popular place to live in Michigan. Whether you're looking for homes or just want to visit this area, it's worth your time.
Empire is located on the Leelanau Peninsula near Glen Lake and Grand Traverse Bay making it an easy drive from many other communities. It's also close enough for residents to take advantage of all that downtown Traverse City offers within 20 minutes. The people of Empire are proud to call this area home, so it's worth your time to come to check out all the great things that they have to offer.
Dining
Empire, MI has many great places to eat. Whether you're looking for fine dining or just a quick bite to eat, this area is sure to have something that will appeal to your tastes and appetite. From traditional American cuisine at the Ice Cream Parlor & Soda Fountain, good ol' pizza at Pizza Palace, down-home cooking like Grandma's Kitchen (with some of the best breakfast in town), or even fast food options like Subway; Empire certainly doesn't disappoint when it comes time for dinner. Other restaurants include Empire Village Inn, Art's Tavern, Mel and Fell, and The Manor on Glen Lake.
Shopping
In addition to being a great place to live, Empire is also home to many wonderful stores and shops. For those who love the outdoors, this area offers plenty of opportunities for shopping as well as world-class views from Glen Lake or Grand Traverse Bay.
Empire has several unique gift shops that you're sure to love including Art's Gifts & Garden Center which features pottery, stained glass creations by local artists John Ulrich and Russel Kingery, fresh-cut flowers picked daily at Harsch's Greenhouse (also located in town), gourmet foods like jams, jellies, and salsas made with locally grown produce from DeBoer Orchard hosted by the Cherry Republic; along with other items such as clothing, jewelry, and books.
Empire also features grocery stores like Grand Traverse Bay Company (which was voted "Best Market" by readers in the area) offering an extensive selection of local products from Traverse Bay Farms, pasta and sauces from Caruso's in Traverse City, homemade ice cream treats from Peninsula Creamery, spices and rubs from The Spice House of Ann Arbor; along with a butcher shop that offers fresh meats.
Recreation
Empire offers plenty of opportunities for recreation including boating, fishing, biking, hiking trails at Glen Lake Park and Pumping Station Island in Grand Traverse Bay. If you enjoy golf, Empire is home to several great courses like The Links Golf Course which was named the #11 best course in Michigan by Golfweek magazine; or Harbour Towne Country Club offers a relaxing experience with expansive views of Glen Lake.
If visiting this area is not enough for you and staying awhile sounds better than spending your days on the road driving back and forth from home to work each day; then consider looking into buying homes in Empire MI. There are many wonderful properties available near these beautiful lakes where residents can relax after a long day at work enjoying all that Northern Michigan has to offer.
Local Attractions
Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail is another excellent place to visit when you're in this area—it's an easy way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors without having to spend too much money at all. There are also some State Forest Campgrounds like Tittabawassee River County Park, which make for a perfect spot if you want your family or friends with you on your adventure no matter what time of year it happens to be right now.
Empire Bluff Trail is another fun place to go hiking when you're in this area. It's an accessible location overall, making it perfect for families who want the best trails around without having to worry about anything too tricky along the way. It should only take a couple of hours or so, depending on how fast your group moves, after all.
Empire Area Historical Museum is another location worth checking out when you're in this area. It's usually open between the hours of 12 pm and 4 pm on most days, so if you happen to be here around that time, then make sure to stop by whenever possible—you won't regret it at all.
Community Events
Residents of Empire enjoy many events throughout the year including weekly concerts on Thursday nights during summer months in Grand Traverse Bay hosted by Music in Glen Lake featuring local musicians who play everything from rock 'n roll to bluegrass or just about anything else you can think of. Annual events like the Empire Summerfest featuring carnival games, a car show, and a parade are held in July; while Pumpkin Fest is celebrated with live music, hayrides, and more during fall.
Getting Around
If you plan on staying put while living in Empire, then having an automobile may not be necessary since public transportation isn't readily available here. However, if you need access to parts of Michigan via car or want the freedom to travel when you please, having a vehicle is necessary.
Public Transportation
If taking public transportation throughout Michigan sounds like something that might interest you and get around without your car isn't an issue; then know there are multiple bus routes available through Blue Water Area Transit (BWAT) which comes into town approximately every half hour during peak times of day-time with stops at places such as Maple Square Mall located on M-25 in downtown Empire where residents can catch their next ride. It's common for this type of service to come less frequently or even stop running altogether once it gets close to evening hours so plan accordingly if relying on BWAT services regularly.
Empire Taxi Services
For local taxi services, residents can look to Empire Taxi for all their transport needs. Depending on your location and destination, rates vary so phone ahead of time if you need the taxi service to pick up or drop off at a specific address.
Bicycle Rentals
If you're looking for something more relaxed than riding in taxicabs; then consider using Bicycling Northern Michigan which offers bicycle rentals through its many locations throughout Grand Traverse Bay including downtown Empire on Maple Street where they have an outdoor self-serve bike rental station available year-round with hourly or daily options that include helmet, lock & key (to secure rented bicycles), map of trails/lakeshore path system; plus discounts offered for multi-day periods. For those who like to plan and make arrangements in advance, it's possible to rent bicycles through Bicycling Northern Michigan by calling the location of your choice.
Security and Safety
The crime rates here are pretty low for this area which is always a plus if you're looking to raise your family in the safest possible environment. There isn't much of anything to worry about when moving into our beautiful city—the police department does an excellent job keeping everyone safe and secure after all.
The city of Empire is in the 78th percentile for safety, indicating that 22% of cities are safer and 78% are more dangerous. This study is limited to Empire's proper boundaries only.
Healthcare
There are a few different options if you need medical care near this area. The closest urgent-care facility is called Blanchard Valley Urgent Care, and it's conveniently located about two miles away from here on Maple Street—so make sure to keep that place in mind when getting sick or injured no matter what time of day it happens to be right now.
The second option for healthcare would be St. Mary Mercy Hospital which has been providing quality services since 1861, making them the oldest continuously running hospital in Michigan as well as one of the top hospitals around today too. They offer emergency room visits 24/7, so there isn't any excuse not to check yourself into this location immediately after noticing something might be wrong with your health at all times.
Schools near homes in Empire, Michigan
Empire is located within Empire Public Schools which offers students opportunities to learn in a safe environment with challenging programs. Students here are not only provided the tools they need for success; but also encouraged to explore their interests and talents by offering special enrichment activities like music, art, languages, band & orchestra (starting at fifth grade), choir (starting at sixth grade); along with other opportunities like International Baccalaureate program offered through Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Focused on Northern Michigan Investment Real Estate
Brook is focused on lifestyle real estate investment properties as most people want a vacation home to make lifelong memories that endure for their entire family, leave a profound legacy for generations, and they want a solid financial investment at the same time. While the area does have many good realtors, there aren’t many with the unique financial, vacation home investing, and technology marketing background. Brook uses his diverse skill set to help clients properly evaluate and determine whether a vacation home makes financial sense.
Continue Your Northern Michigan Real Estate Search. Explore homes and real estate in the Northern Michigan communities below or contact Brook Walsh to help you with your search.
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