Empire Real Estate

Empire Real Estate

Welcome to Empire, Michigan—a hidden gem nestled along the stunning shores of Lake Michigan. This charming village, part of the picturesque Leelanau County, is a haven for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil lifestyle. With a population of just over 300 residents, Empire offers a close-knit community vibe that makes it an ideal place for families, retirees, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Empire is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, with the majestic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore just a stone's throw away. Here, you can hike through pristine forests, bask in the sun on sandy beaches, or take in panoramic views of the lake from the towering dunes. The area is also rich in outdoor activities, from kayaking and paddleboarding to fishing and birdwatching, ensuring that there’s always something for everyone to enjoy.

In addition to its natural wonders, Empire boasts a vibrant local culture. The village is home to charming boutiques, cozy cafes, and farm-to-table restaurants that celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage. Throughout the year, residents and visitors alike can partake in community events, farmers' markets, and seasonal festivals that showcase the best of what Empire has to offer.

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, invest in a vacation property, or simply explore a quaint town with plenty of character, Empire, MI, is an ideal choice. Experience the warmth of this delightful village and discover your perfect slice of paradise along Lake Michigan.

Newest Listings in Empire

$749,000
3 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ 1950388 MLS
Privacy, space, and a prime Northern Michigan location come together in this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home built in 2022! Situated on 4.18 acres, this property offers the peaceful setting you’ve been looking for while still being just minutes from downtown Empire and under a 15-minute drive to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. With short-term rentals/Airbnb permitted, this property also offers an exciting opportunity for those looking for a vacation home or income-producing investment. The home features a spacious 24x32 heated attached garage, perfect for vehicles, recreational toys, or additional storage. The garage includes a generator feed-through panel, ready for connection to a generator, providing the potential for added peace of mind during power outages. A 12x20 detached shed with electricity offers even more storage and workspace, while an RV hookup adds convenience for guests or recreational use. After a day of exploring Northern Michigan, relax and unwind in the hot tub, which will convey with the sale. Inside, you’ll also find a pool table that will remain with the home, making entertaining and enjoying time with family and friends easy. Whether you’re looking for a year-round home, vacation getaway, or short-term rental, this property offers the best of both worlds—peace and privacy while remaining close to downtown Empire, recreation, and some of Northern Michigan’s most beautiful destinations. With newer construction, acreage, a heated garage, additional storage, RV hookup, generator capability, and rental potential, this is a property you won’t want to miss!

6786 W King Fish Road, Empire
$585,000
2 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ 1950344 MLS ⋅ N/A BLDG.
Quality built 2-bedroom, 2 bath home in a private wooded setting on two acres. This home features a massive brick fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and a new metal roof and Hardie siding. Relax on the 33’ x 12’ front deck that was recently refinished with low-maintenance trex decking. Bonus four-car detached pole barn for plenty of storage. Located just two miles South of the Glen Lake Narrows, very close to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and in district for Glen Lake Schools.

10775 S Benzonia Trail, Empire
$149,900
1950115 MLS ⋅ The Timbers BLDG.
This is one of the most affordable five-acre parcels currently available in all of Leelanau County, offering an incredible opportunity to own your own piece of Northern Michigan. From the moment you arrive, towering pines and mature evergreens create a peaceful atmosphere and natural privacy. Toward the back of the property, the woods open into a spacious grassy clearing—providing an ideal setting for a future home, Up North getaway, or private retreat. Imagine building among the trees with plenty of room to enjoy quiet mornings, evenings around the bonfire, and the beauty of every Northern Michigan season. Located within the Glen Lake Community Schools district, the property is just minutes from Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan beaches, golf courses, hiking trails, and the scenic M-22 corridor. Downtown Traverse City is approximately 30 minutes away, providing convenient access to shopping, dining, wineries, and year-round entertainment. Whether you enjoy boating, golfing, hiking, or exploring nearby communities such as Glen Arbor and Empire, this location keeps you close to everything people love about Leelanau County while still offering the peace and privacy of a natural setting.

0000 W Timber Lane, Empire
$74,900
1949995 MLS ⋅ Timber View Ridge BLDG.
Nestled within a quiet wooded neighborhood off M-77 in Empire, this beautiful parcel offers a peaceful Northern Michigan setting where life naturally slows down. Surrounded by mature trees and a blend of wooded privacy and open space, the property feels calm, natural, and connected to the landscape from the moment you arrive. Sunlight filters through the trees, the setting is quiet and refreshing, and the atmosphere captures the relaxed character that makes this area so desirable. The neighborhood features tree-lined roads, large wooded parcels, and a peaceful setting that feels tucked away while still remaining close to everything Northern Michigan has to offer. Dunes Golf Course is nearby, and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan beaches, scenic hiking trails, and the charm of downtown Empire are all just minutes away. Traverse City is also an easy drive, offering convenient access to wineries, shopping, restaurants, and year-round entertainment before returning home to the quieter pace of the woods. The HOA maintains the private roads within the community, helping preserve the neighborhood’s well-kept feel and providing easy year-round access. Whether you’re looking to build a year-round residence or a Northern Michigan getaway, this property offers a setting that feels peaceful, connected, and easy to fall in love with.

57 S Hermies Pass, Empire
$67,500
1949928 MLS ⋅ Empire Hills BLDG.
Set in the Village of Empire, this ½-acre buildable lot puts you right where you want to be; close to everything that makes this area special, without feeling crowded. Located at 11789 S Roen Dr, you’re just minutes from Lake Michigan’s shoreline, local shops, and great spots to eat. The lot offers a clean slate with the space and flexibility to bring your vision to life, whether you're planning now or thinking ahead. Opportunities like this, location, size, and value all lining up, don’t come around often in Empire. If you’ve been waiting for the right piece of land in a prime Northern Michigan, Leelanau county setting, this one’s worth a closer look.

11789 S Roen Drive, Empire
$66,900
1949919 MLS ⋅ Timber View Ridge BLDG.
Privacy and nature abound in this one of a kind wooded parcel located in the beautiful development of Timber View Ridge. Mature hardwoods and a gentle rolling topography allow for multiple options, with country side views and walkout opportunities when building your Up North dream home. A driveway has already been cut into the parcel making it easily accessible and vacant land to the East allow for additional privacy. Located on the southern side of Leelanau County in the Glen Lake School District, this slice of heaven is just minutes from Empire, Glen Arbor, numerous beautiful beaches and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Located just off of M72, you can easily commute to Traverse City for shopping, pleasure, or work. This parcel is not like the other lots that have sold over the years in this development. Come and explore this slice of heaven and begin dreaming of all the possibilities!

15 S Mistys Trail, Empire
$184,900
1949787 MLS
Tucked away along a quiet private road in southern Leelanau County, this level, wooded parcel offers privacy, flexibility, and the freedom to create your own Northern Michigan retreat. Mature trees provide a peaceful backdrop for a year-round residence, Up North getaway, or cozy cabin in the woods. Agricultural Conservation zoning and allowance for manufactured homes give you added flexibility as you bring your vision to life. When adventure calls, nearby inland lakes, rivers, and public lands offer endless opportunities for boating, fishing, hunting, and exploring. The Lake Michigan shoreline, Empire, and Sleeping Bear Dunes are just a short drive away, with Traverse City, Frankfort, Honor, and Benzonia all within convenient reach. A private road maintenance agreement is already in place for Honeybee Road, helping ensure the continued upkeep of the roadway. Whether you’re ready to build, searching for a peaceful escape, or investing in land for the future, this wooded parcel is your opportunity to claim a quiet corner of Leelanau County.

0000 S Honeybee Road, Empire
$999,500
5 Beds ⋅ 5 Baths ⋅ 1949649 MLS ⋅ Heritage Hills BLDG.
Located in the Heritage Hills neighborhood of Empire and adjacent to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this 5+ bedroom, 4 ½ bathroom home with over 4000 square feet of finished living area is equally well suited as a year-round home or summer getaway. The home was completed in 2017 and thoroughly updated in 2024 with fresh paint and new carpet and was thoughtfully furnished, offering a true turnkey opportunity. The main level features a relaxed beach house design with an open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area built for entertaining. The kitchen includes granite countertops, a large pantry, and ample workspace. It is complemented by a practical mudroom with built-in lockers, a main-level laundry room, and a powder room. The primary suite features double sinks, a custom tile shower, and a walk-in closet. Upstairs, you will find three bedrooms, two full baths, and a bonus room above the garage that can serve as overflow sleeping space, an office, or a media room. The finished lower level adds a large family room with a wet bar, a fifth bedroom, a full bath, and additional storage space. Outside, the south-facing deck has a natural gas grill hookup with a lower-level patio area below. The perfectly maintained and professionally landscaped half-acre lot abuts National Lakeshore land, providing a view that will never change, access to hiking trails, and a short walk or bike ride to one of Leelanau County’s best west-facing beaches. A three-car garage rounds out the package with eight-foot-high doors, built-in shelving, and plenty of space for toys.

10505 W Pitch Apple Lane, Empire
$850,000
1949525 MLS ⋅ N/A BLDG.
Opportunity to own 50.20 acres of productive tillable land in beautiful Leelanau County. The property consists of two separate 25-acre parcels, offering flexibility for farming, investment, or future planning. Each parcel includes its own well. The property is currently enrolled in the Qualified Agricultural Property Exemption, providing an opportunity for reduced property taxes for a buyer who continues to meet the requirements for the agricultural exemption. With its substantial acreage, tillable ground, two parcels, and existing wells, this property is an excellent opportunity for a farmer, agricultural investor, equine facility, or anyone looking for a large tract of land in Leelanau County.

12500 & 12750 S Plowman Road, Empire
$1,599,000
5 Beds ⋅ 5 Baths ⋅ 1949500 MLS ⋅ N/A BLDG.
Discover the privacy and natural beauty of this exceptional log home with 1,400 feet of private frontage on Courson Lake, spanning Leelanau and Benzie Counties. Surrounded by peaceful woods and pristine landscape, this waterfront retreat is perfect for fishing from your dock, relaxing by the water and stargazing—yet conveniently located approximately 20 minutes from Lake Michigan in multiple directions, including Empire to the west, Good Harbor to the north and the Traverse City area to the east. Enjoy easy access to M-22, local wineries and distilleries, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Glen Arbor, Empire and breathtaking Empire Bluffs. Garey Lake State Forest is steps away, with Michigan’s Shore-to-Shore Trail for hiking and horseback riding and nearby snowmobile trails for winter recreation. The home features warm knotty pine ceilings, a primary suite with heated bath floor and private screened porch, lake views from all four bedrooms and surround sound throughout the home, sauna, garage and decks. A solid-cedar sauna with traditional hot rocks, separate sink and oversized rain shower creates a spa-like retreat. Multiple lakeside decks offer beautiful spaces to entertain and enjoy peaceful sunsets over private lake shared with neighbor. A detached garage features a workshop with half bath and 10' doors for cars, boats and recreational equipment. Above is a guest house ideal for family, friends or potential rental income. Driveway, detached garage and guest-house floors have radiant heat systems ready for connection to a boiler. Privacy gates serve both driveways. Main house: 4,340 finished sq. ft., 4 BR/3.5 BA. Detached garage/guest house: 1,500 finished sq. ft. studio with full bath plus workshop with half bath. Benzie Co.: 4.56 acres; Leelanau Co.: 7.12 acres; acreage includes a portion of Courson Lake.

15495 E Pettengill Road, Empire
$1,600,000
1949351 MLS ⋅ Na BLDG.
A one-of-a-kind, estate-sized Leelanau County parcel. This private, elevated 120 acres includes a spectacular panoramic view of the Empire Valley and is only a 5-minute drive to the Village of Empire amenities, a sandy public beach on Lake Michigan, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail and National Lakeshore recreation. The property is improved, with two active wells, electric service, a cement-block barn and a fence encompassing 100 acres. Rising hundreds of feet above the valley, a 2,500-foot-long, west-facing ridge currently offers stunning sunsets and distant views of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes from two locations. Select tree thinning of the 20-acre woodland on the slope could provide potential views from the entire ridge. Flat land in the middle of the property presently contains 60 acres of active cherry trees. Their removal would provide a new owner with a number of use options. Rolling hills with 100-plus-year-old white pines and other trees are found on the property’s east side, bordered by a paved county road. Tall, mature spruce trees line a portion of the property near the road, and red pines are found along most of the property lines, offering privacy. Last year 400 new evergreens were planted, and some of the parcel adjoins National Lakeshore property. The acreage has access to cable internet along the road. It is a short drive to golfing, to the Glen lakes for swimming, boating and fishing, and to Glen Arbor for eclectic shopping and dining, tennis, and kayaking on the Crystal River. Located in the Glen Lake School District, the property offers an easy commute to Traverse City via M-72 for big city fun such as movies, concerts, upscale dining, festivals and more.

12540 S Benzonia Trail, Empire
$315,000
1949211 MLS ⋅ N/A BLDG.
Discover your own slice of Northern Michigan on S Lacore Road in Empire! This beautifully wooded, buildable lot offers just over an acre and 124 feet of private frontage on scenic South Bar Lake. Enjoy peaceful mornings listening to the loons, paddle across the lake by kayak or paddleboard to Empire Beach, or bike into the charming Village of Empire. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is also just a short walk or bike ride away, offering miles of scenic recreation to explore. Surrounded by nature yet close to everything, this special property is the perfect setting for your Up North retreat or year-round home.

S Lacore Road, Empire
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