Why pricing expectations, buyer feedback and today's market conditions deserve a closer look.

A beautifully maintained home. Thoughtful renovations. An attractive setting. Professional photography and extensive marketing.

And yet, weeks turn into months without an acceptable offer—or sometimes without a meaningful showing.

For homeowners who have invested years of care and considerable financial resources into their property, this can be frustrating and difficult to understand.

If the home is exceptional and the marketing is strong, why isn't it selling?

It's a question worth exploring as Northern Michigan's real estate market adjusts to changing buyer expectations.

In my recent transactions, I've noticed an important distinction: properties are finding buyers when sellers recognize market conditions, listen to feedback and remain open to thoughtful negotiation.

That doesn't mean every home is overpriced. But understanding what today's market is telling us has become increasingly important.

A Beautiful Home and a Marketable Price Are Two Different Things

During the extraordinary housing market of 2020–2022, limited inventory, historically low mortgage rates and intense competition pushed prices to remarkable levels.

Many homeowners understandably remember those conditions.

But today's buyers are more deliberate. They're comparing properties carefully, studying listing histories, considering financing costs and increasingly expecting room for negotiation.

A home can be beautifully renovated and genuinely exceptional, yet struggle to attract buyers if its asking price exceeds what the market supports.

A home's quality establishes its appeal. The market ultimately determines what buyers are willing to pay for that appeal.

What Showings—and the Absence of Showings—Tell Us

When a property isn't selling, one of the first things I examine is the response from prospective buyers.

Are buyers scheduling showings? What are they saying afterward? Are several independently expressing similar concerns?

When buyers consistently comment that a property is priced too high, that feedback deserves serious consideration.

It isn't always comfortable information for homeowners to receive, particularly when they've invested substantial time and money in their property.

But these are real reactions from people actively considering a purchase.

One buyer's opinion doesn't establish market value. However, repeated feedback, supported by comparable sales and competing inventory, can provide valuable insight.

Equally revealing is a property receiving little or no showing activity despite professional marketing.

That doesn't automatically prove the price is wrong. Seasonality, location and the size of the buyer pool matter.

But it should prompt an important question:

Are we reaching the right buyers at a price that encourages them to take the next step?

Renovation Costs Don't Always Translate Into Resale Value

This is especially relevant to homeowners who made substantial improvements during the past several years.

New kitchens, bathrooms, additions, landscaping and mechanical systems can significantly improve a home's desirability and value.

But the cost of an improvement and the amount a future buyer is willing to pay for it aren't necessarily the same.

This distinction becomes particularly important with luxury waterfront properties.

An exceptional Lake Michigan residence may feature extraordinary craftsmanship, extensive amenities and a setting that would be extremely expensive to reproduce.

Yet its market value also depends on the number of qualified buyers seeking that location, competing properties and the lifestyle the surrounding community offers.

Buyers aren't evaluating the residence alone. They're considering access to healthcare, restaurants, shopping, transportation, recreation and year-round amenities.

Replacement cost, total investment and market value are three different considerations.

The Hidden Cost of Starting Too High

It's understandable that sellers sometimes want to begin with an ambitious asking price.

We can always reduce it later.

Sometimes that approach works. But there can be a cost.

When a property first enters the market, buyers already searching within its price range take notice.

If the asking price is substantially above what those buyers consider reasonable, some may never schedule a showing.

As weeks become months, the listing accumulates market time.

Price reductions can renew interest, but they don't necessarily recreate the attention a properly positioned home might have received initially.

Meanwhile, competing homes sell, new listings appear and market conditions change.

I've seen homeowners eventually make larger price adjustments after extended periods of limited activity than they might have considered earlier.

The objective isn't simply to list a property. It's to position it where qualified buyers recognize its value.

Why Willingness to Negotiate Is Making a Difference

One of the clearest patterns I'm seeing in recent transactions is that sellers willing to engage constructively with qualified buyers are finding success.

Sometimes a price adjustment attracts renewed interest.

Other times, a buyer submits an offer below asking, creating an opportunity for meaningful negotiation.

Both approaches can work.

And negotiation isn't always about price. Closing dates, inspections, repairs, financing and occupancy can influence whether an agreement comes together.

Of course, not every low offer is reasonable.

But when a qualified buyer makes a serious offer, even below asking, a thoughtful counteroffer can be more productive than ending the conversation.

The goal isn't for one side to win at the other's expense. It's to find common ground supported by today's market.

From My Perspective

I've represented homeowners with beautiful properties, including residences that have undergone extraordinary renovations.

I understand the pride they take in those investments—and the disappointment when buyers don't recognize the same value.

One of my responsibilities as a Realtor is to share candid market information, even when it isn't what a seller hoped to hear.

That includes actual buyer feedback, showing activity, comparable sales and competing listings.

I've watched properties that initially struggled to attract acceptable offers go on to sell after sellers reconsidered their pricing or became more open to negotiation.

The homes didn't suddenly become more attractive.

What changed was the alignment between sellers' expectations and what qualified buyers were prepared to pay.

Sometimes homeowners become frustrated with a lengthy marketing period and change representation. A fresh approach can certainly help, but when a property has received broad exposure without meaningful interest, changing Realtors alone may not resolve a pricing challenge.

My responsibility isn't simply to agree with a homeowner's expectations. It's to provide the information and professional guidance necessary to help them make an informed decision.

Final Thoughts: Listen to What the Market Is Telling You

Today's Northern Michigan market continues to offer opportunities for buyers and sellers. Well-positioned homes can attract strong interest, and distinctive waterfront properties remain desirable.

But buyers are evaluating their options carefully, making accurate pricing and constructive negotiation especially important.

For homeowners considering a sale, I recommend focusing on four principles:

• Price for today's market, not solely on past appreciation or renovation expenses.

• Listen to buyer feedback. Consistent reactions can reveal important information.

• Recognize that market time matters. Strategic initial pricing can make a difference.

• Remain open to reasonable negotiation. A qualified buyer's first offer may be the beginning of a productive conversation.

Above all, remember that an exceptional home doesn't necessarily command every dollar its owner has invested.

The market doesn't always tell us what we want to hear. But the sooner we understand what it's telling us, the more options we have.

If you're considering selling your home—whether it's a waterfront residence, a longtime family home or a property you've extensively renovated—I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss its position in today's market.

Sometimes a careful review of recent sales, current competition and your personal objectives is the most valuable first step, long before a property is listed.

Gordon Liechti, GRI
The Mitten Realty Group

A Northern Michigan market perspective for buyers and sellers | September 2026

Northern Michigan buyers have more information, more choices and more reason to be patient. But in a market where waiting has often been rewarded, knowing what you're actually waiting for may be more important than ever.

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If you've been watching the Northern Michigan real estate market closely, you've probably noticed a change in the rhythm. Buyers are still looking—often very closely—but many are taking longer to act. Cash buyers, well-qualified buyers and financed buyers alike are watching, comparing and waiting unless there is a compelling reason to purchase now.

That does not mean they aren't serious. Some of the buyers I work with have followed the market with me for years. They open listings, revisit properties, watch price changes and continue refining what they want. I don't consider those buyers tire-kickers. In many cases, they are serious buyers waiting for the combination of property, location, timing and value that gives them enough confidence to move forward.

And today's market has given them a reason to believe patience can pay.

Waiting Has Been Rewarded

Consider a hypothetical property listed at $1.2 million. A buyer likes it, but the price doesn't feel quite right, so the buyer waits. Thirty days later it is reduced to $1.15 million. Later, perhaps $995K.

“See? Waiting worked.”

Sometimes it did. And when buyers see that happen repeatedly, waiting begins to feel less like hesitation and more like a sensible strategy. Every price reduction reinforces the idea that another seller may eventually make the next move.

Recent local data supports the broader picture of a market where buyers have room to be selective. In September, Realtor.com reported 1,081 active listings in Grand Traverse County, up 7.1% year over year, with a median 52 days on market. Zillow's latest county data showed that 54.8% of July sales closed below the final list price. Those figures do not mean every property is negotiable, but they help explain why buyers increasingly feel comfortable watching before acting.

At This Price, I Don't Want to Make a Mistake

I recently worked with a buyer where that sentiment became very clear during the purchasing process: “At this price, I don't want to make a mistake.”

That thought is not limited to luxury buyers or cash buyers. At almost any price point, once the purchase is significant to the buyer, affordability and confidence become two different questions.

Can I buy this?  is not the same question as  Am I confident enough to buy this?

Buyers want to know whether the property is really the right one, whether the price is supported, whether they are compromising on something they will regret, and whether something better might appear next week. Those are reasonable questions. The difficulty begins when every property is measured against the possibility of a better one appearing tomorrow.

Are You Waiting for the Right Home—or the Perfect Home?

The internet has made today's buyer extraordinarily well-informed. But unlimited information does not always create greater clarity. Sometimes it does the opposite.

After months—or years—of searching, a buyer may no longer be comparing a new listing with a handful of other homes. Without realizing it, the buyer may be comparing it with the best individual features of hundreds of properties already seen.

The beach from one. The sunset from another. The kitchen from another. The privacy of another. The location of another. And perhaps the price of the one that sold two or three years ago.

This is especially easy to do with Northern Michigan lakefront property, where buyers are evaluating not only the home, but also the lake, frontage, bottom, water depth, exposure, privacy, neighbors, boating, swimming, drive time and view. Eventually the 'perfect property' can become a composite of several different homes—and no single property can compete with it.

Sellers Are Still Pricing From a Market Buyers Remember

There is another side to this. In my view, some sellers are still influenced by the extraordinary COVID-era market, when prices rose rapidly, mortgage rates were exceptionally low, inventory was scarce and multiple offers became commonplace.

Today's valuation has to be grounded in today's conditions. A comparable sale is important, but it is only part of the picture. A sound valuation is triangulated through recent comparable sales, current competing inventory, interest rates and affordability, buyer demand, property condition, location, days on market and the timing of the sale.

Price for the market you're entering—not the market you're remembering.

This matters because a seller can be convinced a property is worth a certain number while the active buyer pool assigns it a different value. When that gap is too large, the result is often not an immediate low offer. It may simply be silence.

Today's buyer can be highly interested in a property without being willing to make an offer on it. The buyer may save it, return to the photos, watch the days on market and wait for a price change. To the seller, that can look like a lack of interest. To the buyer, it may be active interest at the wrong price.

A Price Reduction Can Change More Than the Price

When a property is reduced once, a buyer may reconsider it. But repeated reductions can also change the buyer's perception of negotiating leverage.

“Maybe they'll come down again.”

“Now they may be negotiable.”

“I wonder how motivated they are.”

That is one reason initial pricing matters so much. Starting materially above supportable value can unintentionally train buyers to wait for the next reduction. The first weeks on the market are valuable, and a later price correction does not always recreate the urgency or attention of a well-positioned launch.

For buyers, however, there is an equally important caution: not every property will follow that pattern. A well-positioned home with the right location, condition, features and price can still attract decisive buyers. Waiting works—until the property you truly want is the one that does not wait.

What Does a Low Offer Really Mean?

In this environment, lower offers are also part of the conversation. Sometimes a buyer is testing a seller. Sometimes the offer reflects genuine market evidence. And sometimes the buyer is simply putting a number on uncertainty: “I like the property—but I only like it enough at this price.”

A seller should not automatically interpret every low offer as an insult, just as a buyer should not assume that a property sitting for 60 or 90 days means the seller is desperate. The useful question is whether the offer—or the asking price—is supported by the market.

Know What Would Make You Say Yes

If you have been searching for a year, two years or longer, you may not need more real estate information. You may need greater clarity.

Before opening another hundred listings, try answering three questions:

• What are the three things I absolutely must have?

• What am I willing to compromise on?

• If a property met those priorities at a price supported by today's market, would I actually be prepared to buy it?

If the answer to the third question is still no, continuing to wait may be exactly the right decision. But if the answer is yes, those priorities become a purchasing strategy instead of simply another search.

And if you are waiting for a price that today's market consistently does not support, that is useful information too. The answer may be to adjust the search, change the property criteria, reconsider the location—or simply keep waiting for an unusually good opportunity.

The Same Clarity Helps Sellers

Sellers benefit from the same discipline. The question is not only, “What do I want for my property?” It is, “How will today's buyer compare my property with everything else available—and with what has actually sold?”

A home can be special and still be overpriced. A lakefront property can be unique and still require careful comparison of frontage, water quality, exposure, privacy, improvements and location. And a seller's investment in renovations does not automatically translate dollar-for-dollar into market value.

Good pricing is not about giving a property away. It is about positioning it where today's buyers recognize the value before they become conditioned to wait.

Sometimes the Best Advice Is Still to Wait

There are buyers I would tell not to compromise. What they want may be unusual, but it does come along occasionally. In those cases, patience is appropriate.

There are also buyers who have seen enough properties that another listing is unlikely to create clarity. A more useful conversation may be about the patterns in the homes they have liked—and why they did not act.

You may discover that every property you saved had privacy and western exposure. Perhaps those matter more than the particular lake. You may discover that the type of home you want exists, but not at the price you have been expecting. Or you may confirm that your criteria are realistic and waiting remains the right strategy.

If You're Waiting, Give the Waiting a Purpose

Patience can be a very good real estate strategy. But the most successful patience usually has a purpose.

If you're waiting for the right property, know what “right” means.
If you're waiting for the right price, know what that price is based upon.
If you're waiting because you're afraid something better may appear tomorrow, remember that there will almost always be another listing.

The goal is not to find a property that makes you stop looking because nothing better could ever exist.

It is to recognize when you've found one that's right enough that you no longer need to.

If you've been following the Northern Michigan market with me for months—or even years—and haven't found the right property, you don't need to apologize for taking your time. But it may be worth revisiting your search together—not necessarily to expand it, but perhaps to narrow it.

Tell me the three things that matter most to you today. We can look at the market through that lens and determine whether what you're waiting for is realistic, whether the search should change, or whether patience really is still the right strategy.

Why today's market may offer more opportunity than the headlines suggest

Something interesting is happening in today's real estate market.

Buyers are looking.

They're spending considerable time online, watching new listings, comparing prices, saving properties and, in many cases, returning to the same listings on real estate websites several times over a period of days or weeks.

But many are also sitting back.

They're interested—but cautious.

And when they do decide to make an offer, there's increasingly an expectation that the asking price should be negotiated.

That combination is creating one of the more interesting real estate environments we've experienced in several years.

For buyers and sellers throughout the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan market, understanding what a more negotiable market actually means may be more important than simply watching where prices or mortgage rates go next.

The Market Isn't Weak — It's More Negotiable

Those are two very different things.

Recent Grand Traverse County housing data illustrates the distinction particularly well. Zillow's Home Value Index shows typical home values up approximately 2.2% over the previous year, while its latest sale-to-list data shows 61.6% of sales closing below asking price and a median sale-to-list ratio of approximately 98.7%.

Think about what those numbers are telling us.

Values can remain relatively strong while buyers simultaneously gain more room to negotiate.

That's not necessarily a declining market.

It's a market becoming more selective.

And that distinction matters.

Today's Buyer Is Watching — Sometimes for Quite a While

One of the most noticeable changes I'm seeing is just how much research buyers are doing online before taking the next step.

That's understandable.

Today's buyer has extraordinary access to information. Within minutes, someone can review photographs, property history, taxes, nearby listings, price changes and estimated values—all without leaving home.

That's useful.

But it can also make it very easy to remain on the sidelines.

There's always another listing to look at.

Another price reduction to wait for.

Another interest-rate announcement coming.

Another reason to see what happens next week.

Eventually, however, information has diminishing returns.

If you've found yourself returning to the same listing online several times, saving it as a favorite or comparing it repeatedly with other properties, that may be telling you something.

It doesn't mean you should buy it.

It may simply mean it's worth learning more.

If You Keep Coming Back to the Same Listing Online, Pay Attention to That

If you've found yourself returning to the same property on a real estate website several times over a period of days or weeks—studying the photographs, checking the price history or comparing it with other homes—it may be time to move beyond the computer screen and learn a little more.

Not because you need to buy it.

Not because you need to make an offer.

But because there is a considerable difference between browsing a home online and actually walking through it.

Photographs can't fully communicate setting, privacy, traffic, neighborhood character, quality of construction or simply how a home feels when you're standing inside it.

That difference can be even more significant with Northern Michigan waterfront property.

Two homes with seemingly similar frontage can have very different shorelines, water depth, exposure, privacy, bottom conditions, boating characteristics and views.

Sometimes seeing a property in person confirms that it isn't right for you.

That's valuable information, too.

But sometimes it reveals an opportunity—or a quality about the property—that simply wasn't apparent online.

And if the home feels right but the price doesn't, that's when it becomes worthwhile to take a closer look at the market data and determine whether there may be a reasonable negotiating opportunity.

Negotiable Doesn't Mean Every Property Is Overpriced

This may be the most important distinction in today's market.

I'm seeing an increasing expectation among some buyers that virtually every asking price should be negotiated substantially downward.

Sometimes that's justified.

Sometimes it isn't.

A home that has been on the market for several weeks or months may present an opportunity. But market time alone doesn't necessarily mean a property is substantially overpriced—or that the seller is prepared to accept an aggressive discount.

There is an important difference between negotiating intelligently and simply offering less because the market feels negotiable.

A thoughtful offer should consider:

• Recent comparable sales
• Condition of the property
• Length of time on the market
• Previous price adjustments
• Competing inventory
• Unique characteristics of the property
• And, when it can be determined, what may matter most to the seller

Sometimes there is meaningful room between asking price and market value.

Sometimes there isn't.

Knowing the difference is where local market knowledge becomes particularly valuable.

Negotiation Is About More Than Price

This is another point that sometimes gets overlooked.

The purchase price is certainly important, but it's only one component of an offer.

Depending upon the circumstances, buyers and sellers may find common ground through:

• Inspection terms
• Repairs or credits
• Closing date
• Occupancy
• Financing terms
• Personal property or furnishings
• Other contingencies important to either party

A buyer may care most about price.

A seller may care considerably about timing or certainty.

Understanding what matters on both sides can sometimes produce an agreement when focusing exclusively on price cannot.

That's what good negotiation is supposed to accomplish.

What This Means for Sellers

Sellers need to understand the other side of this changing environment as well.

Today's buyers are informed, patient and increasingly comfortable testing the asking price.

That does not mean a seller should automatically accept a low offer.

Nor does one disappointing offer necessarily mean the home is incorrectly priced.

But sellers should pay attention to patterns.

If several qualified buyers independently arrive at approximately the same conclusion about value, the market may be providing useful information.

Conversely, if the comparable sales strongly support the asking price, the condition is excellent and the property is well positioned, there may be good reason to remain patient.

The skill lies in knowing the difference.

And when a reasonable buyer does make an offer below asking, a thoughtful counteroffer can sometimes be much more productive than simply ending the conversation.

From My Perspective

One of the biggest changes I'm seeing this year isn't that buyers have stopped buying.

They haven't.

They're spending considerably more time researching properties online, returning to listings that interest them, comparing alternatives and watching price and market activity before deciding whether to take the next step.

And when they finally make an offer, many want to feel they've negotiated something.

I don't necessarily see that as unhealthy.

A more balanced market gives buyers time to think and gives sellers an opportunity to work with serious purchasers.

But there is a danger on both sides.

Buyers can become so focused on getting a “deal” that they lose the right property.

And sellers can become so focused on their asking price that they fail to recognize a qualified buyer standing in front of them.

Good real estate negotiation isn't about one side winning and the other losing.

It's about understanding where genuine value exists—and whether there's enough common ground to put a transaction together.

The Next Step Doesn't Have to Be a Big One

For someone who has been browsing homes online for months, “taking the next step” can sound more consequential than it really is.

It doesn't have to mean writing an offer.

It might simply mean seeing the property.

Or looking more closely at recent comparable sales.

Or understanding why a particular home has been on the market for 60 days.

Or asking whether I believe the asking price is supported by the market.

Those are small steps.

But they replace speculation with information.

And information makes better decisions possible.

Final Thoughts

Today's market in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan presents an interesting combination.

Home values remain relatively resilient, buyers are highly engaged online, and yet negotiations have become increasingly common. Mortgage rates also remain an important affordability consideration, with 30-year fixed rates continuing to sit in the mid-6% range recently.

For buyers, that can create opportunity.

For sellers, it requires realistic positioning and patience.

For both, it makes good information, local experience and skilled negotiation increasingly important.

If there's a particular property you've been watching online and you're wondering whether there may be an opportunity, send me the address.

I'll be happy to give you my perspective on the listing, its pricing, the market history and whether I believe it may—or may not—be worth exploring.

No pressure to make an offer.

Sometimes the best next step is simply understanding the property a little better.

Gordon Liechti, GRI
The Mitten Realty Group

What I've Learned After Helping Homeowners Make Some of Their Biggest Real Estate Decisions

Every year, I meet homeowners who tell me something remarkably similar.

"We've been thinking about making a move for quite a while."

Sometimes it's been six months.

Sometimes it's been two or three years.

Very rarely does someone tell me they woke up one morning and suddenly decided it was time to sell their home.

Most major real estate decisions don't happen overnight.

They develop slowly.

A conversation over dinner.

A home that suddenly feels larger than it once did.

A desire to spend more time enjoying Northern Michigan and less time maintaining a house.

Children who have started families of their own.

Or perhaps a realization that the waterfront cottage you've loved for years is ready to become someone else's place to build memories.

After helping buyers and sellers throughout the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market for many years, I've noticed something interesting.

The perfect time rarely announces itself.

Instead, people who look back most positively on their decisions usually had one thing in common:

They started planning before they started moving.

The Headlines Will Always Give You a Reason to Wait

Every month there is another headline.

Mortgage rates.

Inflation.

The stock market.

Inventory.

Election cycles.

Global events.

There will always be another reason to believe that next month—or next year—might be better.

Sometimes it is.

Sometimes it isn't.

But in my experience, the homeowners who are happiest with their decisions rarely make them because of a headline.

They make them because the decision makes sense for their family, their finances, and the lifestyle they want over the next five to ten years.

The Grand Traverse Area and Northern Michigan Continue to Tell Their Own Story

National real estate news provides helpful perspective.

But real estate has always been local.

Here in the Grand Traverse area and throughout Northern Michigan, we're continuing to see a market that has become more balanced—not weaker.

Inventory has improved modestly, yet remains below long-term averages.

Well-maintained homes continue to attract strong interest.

Lakefront properties remain highly desirable because one thing has never changed:

They're not making any more shoreline.

Buyers today are thoughtful.

They're asking better questions.

They're negotiating more carefully.

And they're making decisions with greater confidence than they were just a few years ago.

Personally, I believe that's a healthier market for everyone.

Preparation Creates Opportunity

One observation has become increasingly clear this year.

The homeowners who begin planning early almost always have more options.

That doesn't necessarily mean listing your home next month.

It might simply mean understanding:

• What your home could realistically be worth today.
• What neighborhoods or communities fit the next chapter of your life.
• Whether downsizing, moving closer to town, or upgrading truly aligns with your goals.
• What improvements, if any, would make sense before selling.

Knowledge doesn't create pressure.

It creates confidence.

From My Perspective

One of the reasons I enjoy working in real estate is that no two families are exactly alike.

Every home has its own story.

Every move has its own purpose.

Over the years, I've found that homeowners rarely regret taking the time to understand their options.

What they often regret is waiting for everything to feel perfect.

Perfect markets don't exist.

Perfect timing rarely appears.

But thoughtful preparation has a way of creating opportunities that weren't obvious at first.

If there's one lesson I've learned after years in this business, it's this:

The people who make the best real estate decisions usually aren't the ones trying to predict the future.

They're the ones who understand their own goals clearly enough to recognize a good opportunity when it arrives.

Final Thoughts

The market will continue to change.

It always has.

Interest rates will rise and fall.

Inventory will increase and decrease.

Headlines will continue to come and go.

What doesn't change is the importance of making decisions that fit your life—not simply the news cycle.

Here in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market, I continue to see thoughtful buyers and sellers finding opportunities because they're planning ahead rather than reacting.

If you've been quietly wondering what your next chapter might look like—even if it's still a year or two away—this may be the perfect time to begin the conversation.

Not because you need to move today.

But because understanding your options today often leads to better decisions tomorrow.

Gordon Liechti, GRI
The Mitten Realty Group

A Northern Michigan Perspective on One of Today’s Biggest Real Estate Questions

For many homeowners in 2026, the decision to sell is no longer just about the value of their current home.

In fact, for many people throughout the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market, the bigger question has quietly become:

“If we sell… where do we go next?”

It’s one of the most important — and often least discussed — parts of today’s market.

Because while home values have remained strong and inventory has improved modestly, many homeowners are finding themselves caught between two realities:

• They may want a different lifestyle or home configuration
• But they’re uncertain how to transition smoothly into the next chapter

And that uncertainty is causing many otherwise-ready sellers to pause.

The Market Has Shifted — and So Has Seller Thinking

A few years ago, many homeowners felt pressure to move quickly.

Today, the market feels different.

Across the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market:

• Buyers are more measured
• Inventory remains below long-term norms
• Pricing has stabilized into healthier appreciation levels
• Negotiation has returned to many transactions

As a result, homeowners are thinking less about urgency — and more about planning.

The question is no longer simply:

* “Should I sell?”

Now it’s:

* “How would this actually work?”

The Biggest Concern Sellers Have Right Now

For many homeowners, the hesitation has very little to do with whether their home would sell.

The concern is what happens after.

Questions I’m hearing repeatedly include:

• “Will we be able to find the right replacement property?”
• “Should we buy first or sell first?”
• “What happens if our home sells quickly?”
• “Would waiting another year really change anything?”

These are thoughtful questions — especially for homeowners who have built substantial equity and are trying to make smart long-term decisions.

Move-Up Buyers Are Approaching the Market Differently

For homeowners looking to move from the $500K–$700K range into the next level of home, the process today is more strategic than emotional.

Many are:

• Looking for more space or updated features
• Wanting better locations or less maintenance
• Re-evaluating lifestyle priorities after years in their current home

But unlike the urgency-driven market of past years, move-up buyers in 2026 are planning carefully.

They are asking:

• How do we coordinate both transactions?
• Should we prepare our current home first?
• What level of flexibility do we need?

This is where thoughtful preparation often becomes more important than trying to perfectly time the market.

For Downsizers, This Is Often a Lifestyle Decision

For empty nesters and longtime homeowners, the conversation is often much more personal than financial.

Many are beginning to ask:

• “Do we still need this much house?”
• “Would condo living simplify our lives?”
• “Should we make this move while we can fully enjoy it?”

For these homeowners, the decision is often about:

• Reducing maintenance
• Simplifying daily life
• Unlocking equity thoughtfully
• Staying connected to the Northern Michigan lifestyle they love

In many cases, the hesitation is not about the market itself.

It’s about emotional readiness for change.

Selling First vs. Buying First — There Is No Universal Answer

One of the most common questions today is whether it makes more sense to sell first or buy first.

The answer depends on:

• Financial comfort level
• Flexibility in timing
• Inventory availability
• The type of property being purchased

For some homeowners, selling first creates clarity and negotiating strength.

For others, securing the next property first provides peace of mind.

The key is not finding a “perfect” strategy.

It’s understanding the options early enough to create flexibility.

Planning Ahead Creates Opportunity

One of the most consistent patterns I’m seeing in today’s market is that homeowners who begin planning earlier tend to make smoother, less stressful moves.

That doesn’t necessarily mean listing immediately.

It simply means:

• Understanding your equity position
• Knowing what inventory exists in your next category
• Thinking through timing and logistics before decisions become urgent

In a more balanced market, preparation creates options.

And options create confidence.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 market in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market continues to reward thoughtful, well-prepared decisions.

For many homeowners, the real challenge is no longer whether they can sell.

It’s understanding how to make the next move work comfortably and confidently.

This is a market that rewards:

And in many cases, the homeowners who begin exploring their options earlier are the ones who ultimately feel the most confident when the right opportunity appears.

If you’ve been quietly thinking about your next move — whether it’s upsizing, downsizing, simplifying, or simply exploring possibilities — I’m always happy to talk through the market and help you think through your options.

Gordon Liechti, GRI

As we move through spring 2026, the real estate market continues to generate a steady stream of headlines — many of them focused on rising home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and ongoing affordability challenges.

Understandably, buyers and sellers alike are asking: “What’s actually happening right now?”

The answer depends on where you look. While national trends provide useful context, real estate remains highly local — and the story here in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market is more balanced and nuanced than many headlines suggest.

What the National Headlines Are Saying

At a national level, several key trends are shaping the conversation:
- Median home prices have reached record levels, recently exceeding $400,000 
- Mortgage rates remain elevated compared to the past decade, hovering near the 6% range 
- Inventory has improved in many areas, but still remains below historical norms 
- Cash transactions remain strong, accounting for roughly one-quarter of purchases 

These conditions contribute to the perception of a “challenging” market — particularly for buyers focused on affordability.

What We’re Actually Seeing in the Grand Traverse Area and Northern Michigan Lakefront Market

In Northern Michigan, and particularly within the Grand Traverse area and lakefront market, conditions are behaving differently.

Across the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market:
- Inventory has increased modestly, providing buyers with more options 
- Price growth has stabilized into low single-digit appreciation 
- Days on market have normalized compared to the peak frenzy years 
- Negotiation opportunities have re-emerged in many segments 

This is not a market defined by extremes.

Instead, it is a more balanced environment where both buyers and sellers have opportunities — depending on how they approach the process.

This shift is creating a market where informed buyers and prepared sellers are finding more opportunity than the headlines might suggest.

Mortgage Rates, Buyer Behavior, and Affordability

Mortgage rates continue to play a central role in buyer decision-making.

While rates remain elevated compared to historic lows, they have become more stable — which is helping buyers plan more effectively.

In recent weeks, mortgage rates have shown some short-term movement — influenced by inflation concerns and global events — but have generally remained in the low-to-mid 6% range, keeping the market more stable than many headlines suggest.

In response, buyers in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market are adapting:
- Focusing on monthly payment rather than just purchase price 
- Considering refinancing as a future option 
- Taking a more measured and strategic approach to timing 

Affordability is still a factor — but it is being managed, not avoided.

Is This a Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market?

One of the most common questions right now is:

“Are we in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?”

The answer in 2026, particularly within the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market, is: Neither — it’s a balanced market.
- Buyers have more leverage than they did a few years ago 
- Sellers still benefit from limited inventory and long-term equity growth 
- Well-positioned homes continue to sell, while others may take longer 

Balanced markets reward preparation, pricing discipline, and informed decision-making — rather than urgency.

Lakefront & Waterfront Property — Why It Continues to Behave Differently

One of the most consistent patterns in the Northern Michigan lakefront market is that waterfront property follows its own set of dynamics.

Because shoreline is finite, well-located lakefront homes in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market benefit from:
- Limited long-term supply 
- Strong lifestyle-driven demand 
- Consistent buyer interest across market cycles 

In many cases, these properties have continued to experience steady mid-single-digit appreciation over time, often outperforming non-waterfront homes. Buyers in this segment are typically less reactive to short-term market changes and more focused on long-term ownership and lifestyle value.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers Right Now

For buyers in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market:
• More inventory means more choice 
• Negotiation leverage has improved 
• Timing decisions can be more strategic 

For sellers:
• Pricing accuracy is critical 
• Preparation and presentation matter more than ever 
• Well-positioned homes continue to perform strongly 

Another dynamic I’m seeing right now is that some buyers are quietly revisiting properties they’ve been watching for a period of time. With more balanced conditions and increased negotiation flexibility, homes that may not have felt attainable a few months ago can sometimes present new opportunities.

If there’s a particular property you’ve had your eye on, this may be a worthwhile time to take a second look and evaluate what’s possible in today’s market.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 real estate market is not as simple as the headlines suggest. Here in the Grand Traverse area and Northern Michigan lakefront market, the environment is:
• More balanced 
• More strategic 
• More opportunity-driven 

This is a market that rewards understanding — not urgency. Buyers and sellers who understand these dynamics — and make decisions based on local conditions rather than national noise — are often in the best position to succeed.

If you’d ever like to talk through how the current market applies to your situation, I’m always happy to provide perspective.

Gordon Liechti, GRI 
The Mitten Realty Group 

By Beth Milligan | April 22, 2026

Traverse City planning commissioners voted 8-1 Tuesday to approve a new Tommy’s Express Car Wash to go in at the corner of East Front Street and Garfield Avenue on the Cuppa Joe and former Burger King properties. Multiple commissioners said they were “reluctantly” approving the plans since car washes are an allowed use by right, leaving the board with little recourse to reject the proposal. Planning commissioners are now expediting an update to zoning rules that would require a special land use permit for car washes and gas stations going forward, giving the city more say over such projects in the future.

Tommy’s Express, which bills itself as the fastest-growing car wash franchise with over 270 locations, plans to build a 5,484-square-foot car wash along East Front Street with 11 vacuum spaces and a mat-washing building behind. The company, known for its red-and-white buildings with matching red car brushes, also has locations in Cadillac and Gaylord. Tommy’s Express touted its “environmentally friendly” business model, “efficient processing,” and “world-class facility and operations” in its application.

Bret Docter, vice president of real estate for the Holland-based company, said the Traverse City location will be one of its corporately owned stores. Those car washes typically have hours of 7am-9pm, he said. In response to concerns about noise impacts on surrounding homes, Tommy’s Express agreed to conditions that include installing a five-to-six-foot screening wall and fast-growing vegetation, such as hybrid willows, that can help absorb sound. Planning Commissioner Brian McGillivary pointed out the car wash must comply with the city’s noise ordinance, so if there are violations or the sound produced exceeds city standards, residents can file a complaint.

Since a car wash is a use by right in the C-3 district, it would normally be reviewed internally by staff without coming to the planning commission. However, because the business will generate more than 500 trip ends per day, that triggered a requirement for it to be reviewed by the board. Planning commissioners tabled the application earlier this year over traffic concerns. They requested a traffic study be completed for the project, with the city hiring Wade Trim to complete the study.

Wade Trim found that the site can operate at an “acceptable level of service” during peak hours and has adequate space on the property for vehicle stacking. Tommy’s Express said it has a “unique, high-capacity design and proven efficient layout” that allows its car washes to process more than 200 vehicles per hour, so queuing is rarely an issue. However, Wade Trim made two key traffic recommendations: eliminating the Garfield entrance to the car wash, and making the Front Street driveway right-in, right-out only.

Tommy’s Express accepted those conditions for its site plan. While a believed safer configuration, some planning commissioners noted that that entrance/exit set-up will also put stress on the alley, which will likely see a high number of vehicles using it a secondary entrance/exit point to the car wash. Docter said the company plans to pay to improve the alley prior to opening. However, future maintenance would typically be an expense shared by the city and surrounding property owners under the city’s special assessment district policy.

Tommy’s Express previously highlighted that it uses an “advanced water reclaim system which not only uses up to 60 percent less fresh water than washing at home, it also keeps 100 percent of used water out of the storm system.” That system is notable given the Traverse City location sits one block south of Grand Traverse Bay. Planning commissioners pressed that issue again this week, with company representatives assuring the board that anything released in the city sewer system will have been treated first. City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht reminded planning commissioners the city has a wastewater discharge ordinance and tests for certain chemicals at the plant, with Tommy’s Express required to comply with state and federal regulations regarding its wastewater.

Having “exhausted all options” regarding their objections, Planning Commissioner Jerry Swanson said the board was required to approve the project. “Just because we don’t like something doesn’t mean we can vote no,” he said. “I think that’s unfortunate…we have to remember our role, and also how do fix this moving forward.” McGillivary agreed. While he said he wasn’t criticizing Tommy’s Express as a company – “it’s probably going to be the best car wash we’ve seen up here,” he said – he also said he disliked the project. “If it was up to me, I’d say no, but my discretion is limited here,” he said.

McGillivary said he previously opposed a new Shell station on Munson Avenue and had flagged concerns at the time about such auto-centric uses proliferating in the city. “The city commission and the planning commission at the time ignored it,” he said. “It seems like now that it's moved west of Garfield, we're giving more attention to it.”

Planning commissioners are now in the process of expediting updates to zoning rules regarding auto-centric uses. They will hold a public hearing in May on changing businesses like gas stations and car washes from a use by right to a special land use permit (SLUP). That’s the same approach communities like East Bay and Garfield townships have been eyeing to have more control over data centers. SLUPs add several more approval steps than a use by right, including public hearings at both the planning and city commission levels and a detailed list of standards that projects must meet to be approved.

Beyond just changing auto uses to an SLUP, the planning commission is getting ready to undertake a zoning rewrite that could also update the design standards and allowed locations for such businesses, among a wide variety of issues that would be addressed in a rewrite. That process will take significantly more time, however, with planning commissioners calling the immediate SLUP change a “Band-Aid” that will give the city more control over such projects in the meantime. The Tommy’s Express project helped highlight “how important the rewrite is,” said Planning Commissioner Shea O’Brien.

Pictured: Rendering of a typical Tommy's Express Car Wash

U.S. commercial property prices in March posted their strongest annual gain since late 2022, with the RCA CPPI US National All Property Index rising 2.1%, MSCI Real Assets said Thursday. On a quarterly basis, the index rose 1.1%, implying a faster annualized pace of growth of 4.7%.

“Commercial property pricing has so far proven resilient against a more uncertain backdrop, with war in the Middle East adding a new layer of caution to the investment environment,” reported MSCI Real Assets. Both transaction volume and pricing improved in the first quarter, reflecting continued investor appetite for select assets.

Suburban office prices rose 5.1% year-over-year, while CBD prices gained 1.4%, with both segments posting their highest annual growth rates since Q1 2022. Apartment prices were flat from a year earlier in Q1, while retail prices declined 1.2%. The industrial index rose 2.3% YOY and remains the only major sector to have posted positive returns since the onset of higher interest rates.

By Kierstin Gunsberg

April 2026

Two years ago, we took an analytical look at the state of housing construction across northern Michigan with Lauren Tucker, executive officer of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Northwest Michigan, digging into data to get a clearer post-COVID snapshot of the industry. Now, as another construction season ramps up, Tucker and other leaders share updated numbers — from permits and job growth to timelines, lumber supply and what to expect heading into summer 2026.

Education and job landscape

12 percent: That’s how much job growth NMC’s Construction Technology Program Coordinator Carolyn Andrews estimates the NoMi region has seen since 2020. “Especially around Traverse City,” said Andrews, adding that a boom in residential building and recent infrastructure investments – which includes the city’s upcoming $4 million-plus reconstruction of Slabtown’s Monroe Street – are big factors in the increase. That’s good news for students in NMC’s construction programs, which partner with the HBA of Northwest Michigan, Builders Exchange of Northwest Michigan and several contractors to fill out job-site opportunities and connections for their cohorts. 

178: The current number of regional job openings for construction laborers, while demand for carpenters (129 current openings) and HVAC mechanics (52 current openings) is expected to grow, too. With spring’s busy construction season upon us, there’s still not enough skilled workers to fill the talent gap, explains Andrews, noting that even as NMC graduates fresh contractors into the field, a larger number of workers are retiring. “There aren’t enough new people entering the trades,” she said. 

58: Median age of licensed builders in the state, per 2025 data from the Home Builders Association of Michigan. With 42,206 total licensed builders in Michigan, the majority of them (23,586 to be exact) are 56 and older and coming up on retirement, with those aged 18 to 55 totaling 18,620.

$27.60: The mean-hourly wage of Traverse City’s workforce employed in the “construction and extraction” occupational category (a broad term for trade and labor workers) according to the latest numbers reported in 2024 by the National U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about 10 percent less than the reported national average of $30.73, or roughly $6,500 less per year for full-timers. While there’s job opportunities aplenty up here – and higher wages compared to smaller Michigan communities – competitive pay still lags compared to the rest of the country.

Tucker

Residential red tape

Zero: How many changes have been implemented to the Michigan Residential Code (MRC) since updates were meant to launch last year. “We are still operating under the 2015 [version],” said the HBA’s Tucker. Changes to the code, which includes standards that could crank up new home prices by another $15,000, have faced flack from industry leaders. A lawsuit filed by the HBA of Michigan paused those updates in July. In the meantime, Tucker says it’ll likely be another two years before any changes come into play. Meanwhile, a new commercial residential code was adopted in 2025. 

435: Single Family Home (SFH) permits submitted last year in Grand Traverse County. That’s a solid jump from the 279 new SFH permits in 2023. But for Leelanau and Benzie counties, those permits have actually dipped – Leelanau’s from 208 in 2023 to 128 in 2025, and Benzie’s from 129 in 2023 to 116 in 2025. 

2.8 percent: Reduction in SFH permits that the HBA of Michigan forecasts for this year. Tucker, who notes an increase in multi-family units being built locally, thinks the downward trend on new SFHs could be a mix of industry factors (like increasing construction timelines) and economic factors. There’s no debate that homeownership is becoming less and less accessible to younger markets, with the average age of first time home buyers reaching 40 recently. It was 35 just three years ago. And though mortgage rates have fallen slightly over the last year, “mortgage rates will continue to be the single biggest factor contributing to new home affordability,” said Tucker. And, consequently, they’ll continue to nick at how many new SFH permits are requested this year. Though, Tucker notes, northern Michigan probably won’t be quite as impacted by the rest of the state, since the area attracts more cash buyers, even when it comes to new construction. 

$475,024: The estimated average market value of brand-new SFHs built in Michigan last year. That’s up 6.5 percent over the prior 12-month period which averaged $445,864. 

Costs and timelines

12 to 18: That’s how many months the current surplus of fire-salvaged Canadian lumber is expected to last — a glut that’s actually helped ease building costs. Last year’s Canadian wildfires burned more than 20 million acres of forest, killing millions of trees still standing, still useable trees. “Lumber companies harvest this lumber and produce a surplus, lowering the cost of importing,” said Tucker. So, “even with tariffs, [it] keeps the cost flat.” Material supply, she adds, is pretty stable, and U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber aren’t expected to hugely impact 2026 costs since most softwood production is domestic anyway. The biggest variable for this year is interest rates, says Tucker. If those continue to fall, more buyers are likely to enter the market, pushing housing starts and material costs higher. For now, though, the lumber market has been flat and, she said “the outlook remains remarkably flat.”

90 percent: How much construction timelines have grown since interior designer Paige Maurer first started in the industry 12 years ago. Back then, “it was achievable to start a new build in the late summer or early fall, around Labor Day, and have it completed by early June or the 4th of July,” said Maurer. These days, larger, more elaborate builds, delayed supplies and labor shortages have extended those timelines from around 10 to 12 months to 18 to 24 months. 

Haselton

3,000 to 5,000: The average square footage of the new construction builds that Maurer, who specializes in luxury and custom projects, is seeing for this year. That’s not a big change from last year, she says, but while the size has stayed consistent she’s seeing more of that square footage dedicated to outside spaces like “screened porches, large decks, pools and saunas.” 

Five: Newly built single-family homes currently listed at or below $320,000 across the Greater Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas – a sliver of inventory in what developer Josh Haselton calls northern Michigan’s “missing middle.” It’s the price point where many families can realistically picture homeownership, if they can find something to buy. That’s another number that hasn’t shifted much over the last couple years. “I believe that this number is still floating around $300,000,” said Haselton. “Interest rates are softening which gives a little relief on the monthly payment for this ‘missing middle’ customer.”

Two years ago, Haselton’s firm, Northern Den Development, built exclusively for that market, breaking ground on Thrive TC, 26 three-bedroom, 1.5-bath condo units priced between $293,500 and $305,900 and built in partnership with NMC construction majors on Traverse City’s south side. With Thrive completely sold out, he’s now building Willow’s Way, a 48-unit development on Traverse City’s west side that’ll be similar to Thrive, including remaining in that $300,000 price point. And, though none of Willow’s units have been listed yet, “of the first eight units available, we already have five sold,” said Haselton.

By Beth Milligan | April 7, 2026

Short’s Brewing Company is finally coming to Traverse City. Its new home – the east side of Logan’s Landing on South Airport Road, which the company has jointly purchased with Keen Technical Solutions – will see millions in new investment pour into a site locals have long desired to see revitalized. The Ticker has an exclusive first look at the property plans, including a targeted spring 2027 opening for a new Short’s taproom with a riverside tiki bar.

Tim Pulliam of Keen Technical Solutions and Scott Newman-Bale of Short’s Brewing Company sat down to discuss the companies’ purchase of the site, a deal they finalized March 16. The partners now own the entire east side of Logan’s Landing, including the parking area. Short’s Brewing Company is planning to use about 10,000 square feet of the 16,000-square-foot site, including a 1,600-square-foot deck. Multiple existing tenants including Vince’s Jewelers will stay for now in the remaining space, with room to accommodate future new uses.

Vince Amroian, who owns the jewelry store, sold Logan’s Landing East to Keen and Short’s after owning it for over a decade. Multiple potential buyers have come and gone, but Amroian says it was “worth the wait” to make this particular deal.

“The right people bought it,” he says. “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to this property. We’re not going anywhere – we’ve signed a great lease and are looking forward to their endeavors here. We have the dream team now.”

Pulliam, who is also developing the nearby Mill District property on Woodmere Avenue, is passionate about the placemaking potential around the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. Like other locals, he remembers the heyday of Logan’s Landing when businesses like Auntie Pasta’s drew big crowds on evenings and weekends. Pulliam started dreaming in recent years about bringing the property back to life.

On a recent bike ride, Pulliam brought Short’s founder Joe Short to Logan’s Landing and said, “Could you imagine a bar here on the river?” That set the wheels in motion. Newman-Bale says Short’s – which has been approached “twenty to thirty times” over the years to come to TC and once “heavily looked” at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – saw a unique opportunity to do something “cool and exciting that could help shape the community.” In December, the partners “quickly” reached an agreement to purchase Logan’s Landing East, Newman-Bale says, with Pulliam estimating the timeline at just a few weeks.

With the property now secured, the partners are ready to take action. Newman-Bale says Short’s plans to develop a taproom with on-site brewing, food service, and indoor and outdoor seating that will include a riverside tiki deck that could potentially host live music and other events/entertainment. The combined indoor-outdoor space will be able to hold a few hundred people, he estimates. The taproom is targeted for a spring 2027 launch, with significant remodeling work planned for the fall and potential “pop-ups” occurring between now and next year’s opening, Newman-Bale says.

From there, there’s room for additional future uses/tenants to come online, potential expansion of the outdoor area, and improved connections with the west side of Logan’s Landing, which is under different ownership. The bridge connecting the two sides is in disrepair and blocked off to pedestrians, but Newman-Bale and Pulliam hope that could change in the future. “We hope we can create inspiration and collaboration for like-minded uses to occur across the river,” Pulliam says.

One of the major challenges with Logan’s Landing has been that it’s grandfathered in as a nonconforming structure and thus faces restrictions on its redevelopment under today’s zoning code, including river setbacks. Those regulations have stopped other buyers from being able to come in and, for example, convert the site to luxury condos or a brand-new commercial development. However, Pulliam and Newman-Bale say the property can still be revitalized for those with the patience – and long-term vision – to work within the existing parameters.

“To do it in a way that’s sustainable and not just about immediately maximizing profit does take longer, but it has much more of a community feel in the end,” says Newman-Bale. Pulliam agrees. “The goal is just not to lose money,” he laughs. “If it’s something the community wants, that will be its success.”

The partners have met with Garfield Township officials and say they’re allowed to invest in updating the existing structure so long as they don’t change the site’s footprint. While Short’s and Keen generally can’t build up or out, they can rehabilitate the existing building. The partners plan to invest several million dollars over a multi-year period into updating the property, ranging from roof repairs to new paint to improving the deck.

Township Planning Director John Sych affirms that approach. The owners can “make improvements to keep (the property) in usable operation and maintain the buildings,” he says. Garfield Township could also offer potential “flexibility in dimensional standards in terms of the setback” for future growth through a planned unit development (PUD), or a zoning plan tailored to a specific property. A PUD generally gives developers more flexibility in exchange for offering community benefits on a site. Sych says the township would likely want to see “improvements along the riverfront” as part of the PUD and have the owners of both sides of Logan’s Landing covered in the plan so the property is developed “cohesively.”

The new development comes at a time when Garfield Township is already studying the future of Logan’s Landing and the South Airport Road corridor. Township officials have long discussed the need to potentially raise South Airport Road – which sits in a floodplain near Logan’s Landing – and create some type of crossing that could restore a more natural flow to the Boardman River. There’s a “working group” looking at the area, Sych says, including partners like Grand Traverse County (which owns Medalie Park at Logan’s Landing) and businesses along the corridor. Both Newman-Bale and Pulliam say they’re excited to be part of an effort to bring new energy to Logan’s Landing and the Boardman Lake Loop Trail district.

“The goal is really to be a catalyst with this project and the Mill District project to create activation around the entire loop,” Pulliam says. “It’s such a beautiful natural area around the lake and has such a cool history in our town. We’re getting away from its old industrial roots toward something that’s more beneficial for the entire community.”

Photo credit: David Weidner