A NOTE FROM OUR OWNERS

Wow, what a moment in time for real estate in Northern Michigan! 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 found our talented group of brokers and salespeople at Gaslight Group Properties skillfully navigating a competitive market, while our team at Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan has been nurturing new inventory and modernizing our systems to simplify the process for owners and guests. The post-pandemic market has been extremely fluid for both companies. We've had to learn on the fly and adapt the way we do business, staying ahead of trends, streamlining our services, and finding new ways to create while staying in tune with the mantra we created on our very first day of business just over 10 years ago: "Always put the client’s needs first." The industry has changed a lot in just a decade, but our client-first mentality hasn't.

The resort home segment of the communities we serve has continued to flourish. Yes, inventory is low, but our experienced agents are making transactions happen pre-market, with full-market exposure, or often some version in between. To successfully purchase a resort home on a lake, at a ski hill, or in one of our bustling towns, fast action and insider's knowledge are paramount, and we make those connections happen. The Lofts on Walloon are a prime example: six newconstruction luxury condominiums in the Village of Walloon Lake. At the time of this publication, they will be completed and occupied by six lucky owners who were able to purchase pre-market through Gaslight Group Properties, before the project even broke ground in 2021. We are currently working with reputable developers looking to do more projects like this. After a long lull in new condominium construction, it seems that the appetite for project development has returned.

Perhaps the most interesting change we are seeing, is the potential for year-round population growth. For the first time in the twenty-first century, the Little Traverse Bay region of Northern Michigan is seeing large population increases. Charlevoix and Emmet County census data has been virtually flat or down for the last 20 years, but the expansion of rural high-speed internet has allowed for more of the "work from home" individuals to realize their dream of leaving more densely populated areas and embracing our more laid-back lifestyle. It's happening now and we are helping lead the way forward. We, like many in the area, are cognizant of a need for smart growth and protecting our vast natural resources, which are the foundation of our communities. Emmet and Charlevoix counties are a treasure of forests, farm land, and of course water. Lake Michigan and our extensive watershed of inland waterways were the original catalyst for growth in the early logging years of our area, water was the backbone of resort expansion in the last century, and it’s the beacon that guides us forward through this century.

The prospects for our area are bright and our collective of brokers and agents are here to guide you through what’s happening right now and in the future. Being a realtor is not just talking about crown moldings and countertops, it’s about experience and helping navigate your needs through the way our communities function. That’s where we make a difference, let us prove it to you. We’ll put your needs first and match them with the knowledge we have accumulated. With that as the foundation of the relationship, mutual respect and great results will certainly follow. Happy Summer 2022 and welcome home.

Michael "Mac" McCarthy Danielle Smith Pete Platte