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Welcome to the 2020 Election Cycle
Wouldn't it be terrific if there was at least a year long cease-fire called between the major parties so we could all just take a breath? Unfortunately, that seems to be unlikely as the election cycle gets extended yet again. We've been having the conversation with seller clients and internally with our agents and brokers about the election year effect because the impact on real estate is a real thing.
In 2018 we saw a marked downturn in the number of units selling between late summer and late fall once the election was finished. This was especially true with second home and vacation properties which are largely non-essential purchases. The intensity of politics today with a 24-hour news cycle and pundits seemingly at only the very opposite ends of the political scale seem to be exacerbating the issue. The effects were greater last year than in previous mid-term elections. You can believe that next year is going to be a real doozy with hopeful candidates trying their best to prove how bad conditions are and those in the media spreading the word in one direction or another. This will certainly have an impact on our market in late 2020. Take a look at this chart which shows the average price change of U.S. real estate in the most recent election years.
What's striking to me is the last four elections. 2010 was the absolute bottom of the market collapse and it showed. 2012 was the beginning of the big recovery and numbers were very strong with a popular incumbent in office. 2014 the market continued to recover and mid-terms usually aren't as bad. But look at 2016. Despite a very strong housing market, the politics of that presidential election held numbers to just 3% growth. It's been red hot since, until late last year.
We're rocking again now that the election is behind us and the snow and ice finally left. We expect a great year in 2019 but are certainly business planning for a bit of a drop in 2020. We say this not to cause panic, as by most accounts the economy is flourishing and there don't seem to be any looming issues that will stall it. What we do know is 2019 is likely to be the best year of the next two to sell. If you're considering a sale and can make it happen this year instead of next, it might just be worth doing. At the very least, it's smart to know where your value lies and what the market conditions are right now. Get in touch with the Home Waters agent in your neck of the woods. For no cost, they'll come out and do a thorough market analysis and help you decide if now is the time or not. Until then, enjoy what will hopefully be a nice, sunny, warm June and get outside to make the most of it!
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Favorite Places and Spaces
When was the last time that you visited beautiful Benzie County as a vacation destination or just a fun place for a day trip? You might not be aware, but we have over 60 miles of waterfront and sandy beaches, including 25 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. It's home to a portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with trails, beaches, and phenomenal scenery that captures new imagery throughout Michigan's four seasons.
Scenic Betsie Valley Trail extends 22 miles from Elberta through Frankfort and Beulah to Thompsonville. Spending time with your family hiking or bicycling through both woods and quaint villages is always time well spent; and for lighthouse enthusiasts you'll want to tour and capture the popular Point Betsie with stunning views of the Dunes and Lake Michigan.
Another hidden gem is the Platte River State Fish Hatchery which is the largest fish hatchery east of the Mississippi River. The facility was established in 1928 and converted to the State's main salmon hatchery in 1972. Platte River rears Atlantic, Chinook and coho salmon and is the main egg-take location for coho in the Upper Great Lakes.
A visit to Benzie County wouldn't be complete without a stop to Gwen Frostic Prints to purchase hand-crafted block prints created by Gwen, attuned to the spirit of nature of flowers, birds, trees, essentially anything of nature. As you ramble through her iconic studio, you can witness in action the working print room, coupled with various views of inspiration that provided Gwen with the backdrop to create her incredible works of art.
Benzie County is definitely a multi-seasonal destination spot with something for everyone. From the first resort in the Midwest, Crystal Mountain, to pristine beaches, lakes, and rivers like the Betsie and Platte Rivers. Not to mention the breweries (Stormcloud Brewing Co., Frankfort and Lake Ann Brewing Co., Lake Ann), winery (St Ambrose Cellars, Beulah) coupled with amazing restaurants that will cater to your every need, tantalizing your palate at every mouthful. Come for a day, week, or lifetime to Benzie County where the possibilities of fun and recreation are endless and our real estate is always priced to sell, whether you're looking for a home, cottage, get-away, or vacant parcel. Happy Trails!
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Featured Property!
Here's your opportunity to own a little slice of paradise. This condo site located within Scottish Hills is a beautiful location to build, or park
your camper for seasonal use. Overlooking 130 acre Hunter Lake, this lot already has a 24'x32' garage and a deck for  your RV. Well,
electric and septic are also on site and ready to utilize. Enjoy fishing the lake or hunting on the 900 acres of shared club land. 
Click
here
to explore many other
great properties by Home Waters.
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Habitat Improvement
It's not too late to get your property prepped and planted to create a more inviting environment for whitetails.
This article
from
upmatters.com
has some great info and links to get you started.
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'Tis the Season!
The common Michigander joke regarding two seasons: winter and road construction, is proving true this season. It's become like a fun video game to figure out the most efficient way to get around town this spring. We are very excited to enjoy the finished products of these projects, but in the meantime, we need to be creative. Being aware and having a plan are essential to a pleasant trip.
For the most up-to-date information on the enormous 8th Street reconstruction, see the
website dedicated to it. The Grand Traverse County Road Commission publishes an
update each week detailing current work. You can even sign up for emailed updates. Michigan Department of Transportation
MI Drive map is a super handy interactive map that allows you to add layers with information about current speed/flow, construction, incidents, and more throughout the state.
A little forethought and planning will make a huge impact on your ability to enjoy your time in TC this season. And as always, slow down & relax; you're on up north time now.
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There's an App for That!
Feedly is a news aggregator that allows users to curate and organize chosen topics and sources into easy to navigate feeds. Just one app to check for daily news, and only what you want to see. Handy!
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Upcoming Events
Click the links for details.
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Join Our Team
As we continue to grow, we're looking to add new sales people to our team in key locations. We've helped new agents find quick success and helped experienced agents reach their true potential. We'd like to do the same for a handful of others as we look to provide service throughout Michigan's vacation areas. Click
HERE to learn more about our firm and how we can help agents and brokers achieve their financial and lifestyle goals. We've built a team of truly exceptional agents and brokers and are always looking for the next hard working, ethical individual to add to that group.
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Broker Owner
Manistee AuSable Boardman
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Co-Owner
Elk, Torch,
East Bay
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Sales Associate
Traverse City
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Sales Associate Midland County
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Sales Associate
Clare County
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Associate Broker
Clare County
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Sales Associate
Grand Traverse County
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Sales Associate
Benzie County
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Sales Associate
Kalkaska
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Sales Associate
Houghton and Higgins Lake
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Sales Associate
Muskegon Ludington
Manistee
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Marketing & Compliance
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Joe Sarafa
Sales Associate
Commercial Property |
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