REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS: 3D
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CLIMBS 5.7% 2D
1D THURSDAY MAY 23, 2019
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MORTGAGE RATES 2D
In this Jan. 4 file photo a sign hangs outside a house for sale in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood. U.S. home sales slipped 0.4% in April, as would-be homebuyers face affordability challenges and a limited supply of starter houses. The National Association of Realtors says that existing homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.19 million last month, down from 5.21 million in March. (AP photo)
US home sales fell 0.4% in April amid limited supply By JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales slipped 0.4% in April, as wouldbe homebuyers face affordability challenges and a limited supply of starter houses. The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that existing homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.19 million last month, down from 5.21 million in March. Home sales have struggled despite the solid job market and lower mortgage rates, conditions that are usually favorable for buyers. The jobless rate has fallen to a five-decade low of 3.6%, while the average 30-year mortgage rate has declined to 4.07% from 4.61% a year ago. But buyers are grappling with home prices that have consistently risen faster than wages for much of the past seven years, while construction and sales listings have not responded to pent-up demand from would-be buyers. “The economy in April enjoyed a robust labor market, strong consumer sentiment and low mortgage rates — and was untouched by subsequent trade tensions with China,” said Matthew Speakman, an economic analyst with the real estate company Zillow. “Yet an inventory shortage persists, with a greater share of listings reporting price cuts and, in some months, sitting on the market longer, indications that the pace of existing home sales may continue to suffer or
possibly recover slowly going forward.” Sales have tumbled 4.4% from a year ago. The sales decline is entirely concentrated in homes worth less than $250,000, a likely reflection of a shortage of properties at those price points being listed for sale. Homes are still selling at a brisk pace. The average property sold in just 24 days, the fastest pace ever recorded by the Realtors. The median sales price in April was $267,300, up 3.6% from last year. On a monthly basis, sales declined in the Northeast and South. They were unchanged in Midwest and improved in the West. Inventories have improved, but there is still a lack of homes for sale by historical standards. There were 4.2 months’ supply in April, up from 3.8 months in March. The real estate market was generally considered healthy when the supply is closer to 6 months. Still, there is the possibility that home sales could rebound in the coming months as the lower mortgage rates spur more offers from homes, said Tian Liu, chief economist at Genworth Mortgage Insurance. “The slow turnaround is likely because lower interest rates have not been fully passed on to homebuyers who closed in April,” Liu said. “Homebuyers in subsequent months should see the benefit from lower rates, which could result in bigger sales increases as the year progresses.”
These photos provided by Kohler Co. shows Kohler’s DTV+ system. The system brings water, steam, sound and light to the bath for a multi-sensory shower experience that incorporates a touchscreen interface and six user preset options to customize all four elements. (AP photos)
Bathing beauties By KIM COOK Associated Press Step in the bathroom, turn on the tap. Step in the shower, turn on the faucet. Just mundane parts of the daily routine, right? Yet for bathware designers, they’re anything but. These creative minds dive deep into what they call “the water delivery experience,” and once you’ve experimented with some of their creations, you’ll probably never take a tap for granted again. For the bathroom sink, companies like THG, Axor and Drummonds are offering collections resembling fine jewelry, often at comparable prices. And for the full-body cleanup, there’s shower hardware designed to elevate your senses. Precise, perfectly smooth edges and detailed fine knurling make Axor’s new Edge collection resemble the high-end perfume bottles that were part of the inspiration for Jean Marie Massoud, the collection’s Italian designer.
It was unveiled at this spring’s massive ISH European kitchen and bath industry show in Frankfurt and will be available in North America in the fall. “I’m interested in water’s energy and flow, how it’s both balanced and unbalanced at the same time,” says Massoud, who has designed for the German manufacturer before. With the faucet design, he wanted something that looked effortless, refined and minimalist. Axor has a stable of fashion-forward creatives who’ve designed faucet collections for them, including Philippe Starck, whose Organic faucet was inspired by the shape of a tree branch. Kallista ‘s Grid collection was inspired by the Dutch De Stijl art movement, which was characterized by vertical and horizontal lines; Piet Mondrian was one of its founders. The taps and faucets were created with 3-D See Bath p. 2D
From top: This photo provided by THG Paris shows a faucet from the Nihal collection. French architect Xavier Cartron named his Nihal collection for THG after a star in the Lepus constellation that symbolizes spring water. The porcelain taps come in sapphire, white, black or green. This photo provided by Hansgrohe/AXOR shows a faucet from Axor’s new Edge collection. Precise, perfectly smooth edges and detailed fine knurling make Axor’s new Edge collection resemble the high-end perfume bottles that were part of the inspiration for Jean Marie Massoud, the collection’s famed Italian designer. It will be available in North America in the fall. This photo provided by Wayfair shows the Ikon faucet from Maestro Bath. The design inspiration for the Ikon was a prism and the faucet comes in three metallic finishes as well as uber-trendy white. (AP photos)
In the Garden
Respect the soil in your garden: Don’t add plastic to it
Before it’s too late, I must address one of my pet peeves: deliberately putting plastic in soil. Take, for instance, black plastic sheeting sold as mulch. This stuff appears at first to be a cure-all for weed problems. Lay it on the ground, cut holes only where you will set plants, and weeds will die from lack of light, presumably ending all your weed problems for years to come. LEE REICH But other problems arise. An impermeable sheet of plastic over the ground can leave plant roots and soil microorganisms gasping for air. Roots set in the openings might develop even greater breathing problems
when all the water falling on the plastic floods those holes. And the plastic eventually starts to tear and break apart, which creates a general mess. GEOTEXTILES? Geotextiles, introduced more recently, are offered as an alternative to solid black plastic sheeting. These are woven or spun plastic fabrics that resist tearing and have many small holes to allow passage of air and water. Both black plastic and geotextiles are widely used by farmers, gardeners and landscapers. If you don’t like the way these synthetic mulches look — surely the case when they are used in land-
scaping — you cover them. Wood chips look natural and are widely used for this purpose. And anyway, geotextiles need a thin cover of something to shade out the minimal light that makes its way through the tiny holes. But problems arise again. Over time, plenty of weeds eventually sneak in to grow in the wood chips covering the plastic. Over time, the chips or other coverings also slide around to expose the plastic or geotextile beneath — not a pretty sight! Furthermore, even if black plastic or geotextiles don’t do their jobs forever, they’ll be in the soil that long, or almost. Try to make over the landscape in the future and you will be wrestling with and cutting geotextiles or collecting scraps of black plastic. PLASTIC PEANUTS, NO See Garden p. 2D
This undated photo shows a mulched planting bed in New Paltz, N.Y. Even if black plastic were as effective, long-term, at controlling weeds as hoped, it often falls short in its appearance in the landscape as shown here. (AP photo)
2D The Mining Journal
House to Home
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
4.250
1
4.750
1
Low rate
4.000
1
3.625
1
Average rate
4.094
1
3.906
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, mBank, First Bank of Upper Michigan and Marquette Community Federal Credit Union.
This photo provided by New York-based interior designer Fawn Galli shows a child's bedroom designed by Galli in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Storage baskets located at a child's level can help keep children's bedrooms organized and clutter-free. (AP photo)
Keeping kids’ rooms calm, colorful and (relatively) tidy By MELISSA RAYWORTH Associated Press Spring cleaning season is here, and some of us got a head start by taking Marie Kondo’s message to heart: You’ll be happier if you eliminate clutter. In many households, no room is a bigger magnet for clutter than a child’s bedroom. Designers say parents are increasingly interested in managing that clutter effectively — and attractively. “Everybody wants their house to look like a magazine and that includes the kids’ rooms,” says Los Angeles designer Betsy Burnham. But her advice to parents: Be realistic about how you and your kids actually live. Be honest, and really ask, “Are we a tidy family? Are we too busy? Do we have too much stuff? It’s OK if you’re not a tidy household.” Once you’ve got those answers, Burnham says, there are lots of storage options out there. Here, she and two New York-based interior designers — Deborah Martin and Fawn Galli — offer advice on creating great kids’ bedrooms that can stay relatively clutter-free. COLORFUL, YET RELAXING Galli says she hears clients talking about Kondo’s anti-clutter message. But she says parents also want more restful bedrooms for their kids as a response to digital overstimulation and the pace of modern kids’ lives. She says a space can be colorful yet restful if it’s been planned with a consistent color palette and mate-
rials that work well together. Martin agrees: Choose a neutral color palette for the major design elements in the room, like furniture and wall color, she says. Then you can add pops of color through rugs, bedding and pillows. Burnham also likes the neutral palette for kids’ rooms, where, she says, it’s easy “to overdo it, and think that just because they’re kids they get a brighter palette.” Another way to create a relaxing feel for kids: Leave open play space. “To maximize their creativity and their imaginative play,” Martin says, “it’s important to have an area where they can actually play in the center of the room.” EASY, AMPLE STORAGE All three designers mentioned the value of beds with storage underneath. Bunk beds or loft beds can be perfect, especially for smaller bedrooms. They also suggest labeling bins and baskets, especially for younger kids. A bookcase with deep shelves is perfect for holding labeled bins and baskets when children are younger, with books on higher shelves. Martin suggests considering the room from a child’seye view and planning storage from the ground up. Keep the most-used items where the child can easily reach them. Double rods in a child’s closet will maximize space and help keep clothing organized. For very young kids, you can even add dividers along the rods that specify clothing sizes, so
you’ll know which ones they haven’t grown into yet. Keep your child’s habits in mind: Some kids will fold their clothing Kondostyle and tuck it neatly into drawers. If yours won’t, choose bins or baskets where items like socks and underwear can easily be tossed and kept sorted. TIMELESS STYLE To keep a child’s room from having a “kiddie” vibe that they’ll quickly outgrow, Burnham suggests avoiding primary colors. Also, keep desks and dresser tops relatively clear, Galli says, to keep the space feeling calm and more organized. “It’s a clean canvas,” she says, “to just start fresh at whatever your next project is.” That might be easier to achieve by having less space rather than more: Desks don’t have to be large, Martin says, since many kids end up doing homework or projects at a kitchen table. A big desk in a bedroom can end up being a multipurpose space where a range of things quickly piles up. One last bit of advice: Involve kids, especially older ones, in designing a space that fits their personalities. Have it reflect their hobbies and interests, and add items like a wall rail where they can post things like a rotating display of photos. If your child has his or her heart set on a wild wall color, Martin says, it may be worth going for it. You can always repaint in a couple of years. Involving kids in their room’s design “creates what you can call ‘pride of place,’” she says. And that might make it more likely they’ll keep the room tidy.
Bath from 1D
That metallic and white combination can also be found on Eisen Home’s Marella faucet, available at Wayfair . Wayfair’s also got Vigo’s Niko faucet delivers the water in waterfall form via an elegant, crane-like, white, open-topped spout. Maestro Bath’s Ikon perches a sliver of a handle atop a faceted geometric base, all clad in white. Moen offers the Banbury Glacier showerhead in snowy white. The ISH show included high-end maker THG Paris ‘ debut of French designer Xavier Cartron’s Nihal collection, with porcelain knobs inspired by the constellation drawings of early Egyptian astronomers. The knobs come in a range of colors including emerald, sapphire and black. Home decor’s affection for rose gold and copper has gravitated to the bathroom, as well, with retailers like Signature Hardware offering an array of faucets in pleasing buffed copper
finishes. The shower is also seeing its share of high style, in high-tech form. Hansgrohe’s sizable PowderRain showerhead sends the water out in a soft, enveloping spray thanks to the five holes in each nozzle. The flow is angled so water doesn’t splash in all directions. Moen’s U system lets you control your shower experience via an app to create presets for time and temperature, then use device buttons or your voice to command. Kohler ‘s DTV+ system allows you to preset six different “experiences.” Customize your dream shower with components like speakers, steam, body sprays and chromatherapy (colored) lighting. SmarTap is a similar system, which works with any make of fixture. You can program temperature and flow levels for each shower session, set bathtub filling levels, and set controls for kids’ showers.
technology as open-sided squares and rectangles, so the water seems to emerge from nowhere. They’re finished in buffed matte black, which gives them an architectural presence. Black finishes are currently in demand for the bathroom, according to Hansgrohe US’s product and research development director, Ryan Ramaker. “Matte black, graphite and brushed black chrome finishes are all strong trends,” he says. And there’s another big one to watch, Ramaker says: “Matte white is going to be the next big thing.” He says interior designers and homeowners are attracted by its clean crispness and the idea that, as with matte black, the finish can be integrated into any decorating style for a seamless look. Hansgrohe’s Pura Vida faucet and tap set combines chrome and white finishes.
In this Jan. 23 photo, construction workers build new housing in Salisbury, Mass. The Commerce Department reports U.S. home construction rose in April, led by an uptick in single-family homes. (AP photo)
US home construction climbed 5.7% in April By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — U.S. home construction rose in April, led by an uptick in single-family homes. The Commerce Department said Thursday that homebuilding rose 5.7% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.24 million. But housing starts fell 2.5% from a year earlier, suggesting that would-be home buyers are facing a shortage of new houses. Construction of single-family homes increased 6.2% to 854,000 but was down 4.3% from a year earlier. Building of apartments and condominiums rose 2.3% to 359,000 and was up 1.4% from April
Garden from 1D Another, fortunately less frequently suggested use of plastic in the soil is plastic “peanuts.” Mixed into the soil, the reasoning goes, they should increase aeration. While they would undoubtedly make a soil lighter, and thus seemingly better aerated, all that extra air is pretty much locked up in the peanuts. It has also been suggested that a layer of plastic peanuts be put in the bottoms of flowerpots to enhance drainage, as layers of gravel have been used. In this case, that layer of peanuts is worse than useless, just as the traditional layer of gravel was. The effect in both cases is to create a “perched” water table
2018. From March to April, housing starts surged 84.6% in the Northeast and 42% in the Midwest. Analysts at Contingent Macro Advisors noted that both regions “saw a rebound following harsh winter weather.” But construction fell 5.7% in the South and 5.5% in the West. The regional construction numbers can jump around from month to month. Housing permits, an indicator of future activity, rose 0.6% to 1.3 million, the first uptick since December. Permits were down 5% from April 2018. Single-family home permits skidded 4.2% in April from March and were down 9.4% from a year earlier.
inside the pot, giving the roots less depth of well-aerated soil. Also, spent potting soil can be spread on the ground or added to a compost pile, but do you want the peanuts there also? ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES Enough plastic makes its way into our soils inadvertently, from misplaced plant tags to those stickers now ubiquitous on fruit skins to pieces of old plastic pots. Deliberately embedding a permanent, synthetic blanket in the ground or mixing plastic peanuts into the soil brings no benefits that could not be had in a more nature-friendly way. Paper mulch, for instance, biodegrades and can stave off weeds for a season. Perlite
or vermiculite are two minerals that can lighten a soil more effectively than styrofoam peanuts. Removing plastic put on or in the soil becomes difficult or well-nigh impossible. Deliberately putting plastic in the ground is disrespectful of the skin — that is, soil — that covers our planet and sustains much of the life here. http://www.leereich.com/ blog http://leereich.com
1900 Presque Isle Ave.
228-7255
FEATURED PROPERTY
“We change the lives of people put in our path.”
Les & Judy Thatcher
OFFICE: 942-7699 • 466 TOWNHALL RD., SKANDIA
1 7 E N ic o le t B lv d , M q t Luxury living in the desirable Shiras Hills subdivision! 4 Bedroom, 3 bath ranch. Vaulted living room ceilings with large windows, floor to ceiling stone gas fireplace and a two-room kitchen. Dream Master Suite, marble top jetted tub and fire place! Attached garage, sauna, tanning booth and spacious backyard with an underground pool! (1114275) $ 3 9 9 ,5 0 0 5 7 0 M 3 5 , N e g This lot has 240’ of frontage and is nicely wooded, convenient to Marquette and Negaunee. (1106803) $ 1 3 , 2 5 0 4 0 9 N P in e S t, Is h This cute 3 bedroom, 3 bath, spacious home in Ishpeming has many great features! Two of the bedrooms have full bathrooms attached! Plenty of room to relax, good sized kitchen with recessed lighting! With a little TLC, this home will really pop! (1113815) $ 7 2 , 9 0 0 T B D R id g e S t, M q t This is not something you will find in the middle of Marquette often! With over 20 lots totaling over 4 acres there is so much potential here! (1108977) $ 1 4 9 , 9 0 0 1 2 0 S M a rig o ld S t, Is h Spacious 3 bedroom home has a screened in sun room, two car garage and basement with plenty of storage! The bathroom and kitchen are both large, ton of potential! (1110703) R e d u c e d ! $ 1 2 5 , 9 0 0
www.lookrealtyinc.com
The Mining Journal 3D
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Real Estate Classifieds
Open Houses NEW LISTING
1312 North Bay Ct, Marquette, MI 49855 Directions: From Washington St: Take Front Street North to Fair Avenue, turn East (right) on Fair Avenue to North Bay Ct, turn South (right) onto North Bay Ct and follow to home.
Condo in an incredible location with great views, one block from Lake Superior, YMCA across the street, and walking distance to almost anywhere. Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, with a large outdoor deck, separate laundry room and 2 car garage. Don’t wait on this one! Call, text or e-mail Carol today for an appointment. $ 2 9 8 , 0 0 0
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, May 25,2019 • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 455 E Ridge Marquette, MI 49855
Directions: From Mqt: From Washington St: Take Front Street North to Ridge Street, turn East (right) on Ridge Street, follow to home on left.
Historic Victorian East side home close to Lake Superior feels cozy and has been immaculately maintained. When you step inside this home the first thing you will notice is the original woodwork, hardwood floors, stunning fireplaces and exquisite chandeliers adorning every room. This home is the perfect setting for your treasured antiques, formal furnishings and relaxed enter taining. Every room has a unique feature not found in today’s modern homes. The lower level has a sauna (waiting for a sauna stove) a kitchenette with sitting room and a large wine cellar. This part of the house was once used as an efficiency apartment which has its own entrance. As you venture outdoors, you will find a large yard with lovely gardens, a three car garage with a second story for storage or an apartment. The yard has an automatic sprinkler system and ample lighting. As you view this home you will find it steeped in history and yet modern. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own an exquisite piece of historic Marquette real estate. $639,000
Shown by: Carol Vining Moore
Shown by: Carol Vining Moore
(906) 360-2633
(906) 360-2633
4D The Mining Journal
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Northern
FEATURED LISTINGS
Michigan
Land Brokers
NEW LISTING!
1168 N Winters Road, Trenary
40 Acres, Peshekee Grade, Michigamme
Gorgeous working agricultural dream property with a beautiful home and a great well built and sturdy barn surrounded by fertile fields great for growing crops, horses, cows, a variety of animals on 30 acres.
Wilderness paradise acreage on the Peshekee River with high ground river frontage and several building sites.
$289,000 MLS#: 1114091 BRIAN OLSON
$54,900 MLS#: 1114204 BOB SULLIVAN
PRICE CHANGE!
NEW LISTING!
650 Brookton Road, Marquette
190 Acres, M69, Bark River
Immacualte home beautifully updated and well maintained featuring an open floor plan, 3-4 bedrooms, a great recreation room, a master bath, workshop and garage in a great location.
$229,000 MLS#: 1114004 BRIAN OLSON
57 Acres Co Rd FP, Republic 57 high ground acres located just North of Republic in Marquette County. $37,000 MLS#: 1089951 BOB SULLIVAN
190 acre tract with 73 acres of tillable with the balance of acreage being mixed wooded lots with heavy cover for wildlife in Menominee and Delta County.
$328,000 MLS#: 1114120 ROB SULLIVAN
2500 Co Rd 557, Arnold
Camp with point well, septic, indoor bath and adjoining sauna, shower, and two bunk rooms on 30 acres near Arnold, ATV trails, the migration trails, and the famous Ford River.
$79,900 MLS#: 1111325 BOB SULLIVAN
19223 Jack Spur Road, Carp Lake Township 370 acres of prime forest land and includes a great camp! $442,000 MLS#: 1105465 SUE FELDHAUSER
NEW LISTING!
N2056 US41, Trenary
22 Acres, M28, Deerton
Upper Peninsula hobby farm with a well maintained 4 bedroom, 2 full bath home nestled on a wooded 10 acre parcel.
Nicely wooded acreage with over 1600’ of frontage on the Laughing Whitefish River with good rood access.
$49,000 MLS#: 1113196 ROB SULLIVAN
$160,000 MLS#: 1113938 DON WILLSON/BOB ANDERSON
190 Acres Clark Creek Road, Ishpeming
Mountain top views of the Dead River Basin with a cozy hunting cabin just east of Clark Creek on 190 wooded acres.
$190,000 MLS#: 1111590 BOB SULLIVAN
W9614 US-2 Highway, Naubinway Stunning turnkey home situated on the Black River just east of Naubinway on US2. $199,900 MLS#: 1111006 SUE FELDHAUSER
50 Acres Co Rd AAH, Champion
Lake Superior frontage with over 24 acres of beautiful rolling hardwoods on a well maintained County Road .
40 Acres, Whitefish Access Road, Kiva
11091 East Shore Road, Marenisco Private, large acreage building lot on Lake Gogebic with 207 feet of water frontage. $85,000 MLS#: 1111437 SUE FELDHAUSER
$89,000 MLS#: 1113868 ROB SULLIVAN
40 acre parcel of upland terrain with a nice mix of woods and a secluded location with good road access
$39,500 MLS#: 1111574 ROB SULLIVAN
TBD Co Rd CCT, Ishpeming
$84,900 MLS#: 1112884 BOB ANDERSON / DON WILLSON
Bob Sullivan
Associate Broker/ Owner Cell: 906-361-4212
24 Acres, Co Road KB. Big Bay
Rustic cabin with 50 acres on a year round road with frontage on the Dead River and access to the Dead River Basin.
Modified ‘A’ Frame style camp/cottage on a 26 acre wilderness setting overlooking the meandering Escanaba River.
Love the Land!
908 Blackbird Lane, Republic Northwoods lakefront cottage on semi-private Sundog Lake with 1300 feet of water frontage. $225,000 MLS#: 1113908 BOB SULLIVAN
Rob Sullivan
Associate Broker, Office Manager Cell: 906-362-3337
Brian Olson
Associate Broker Cell: 906-869-6446
$175,000 MLS#: 1108553 ROB SULLIVAN
TBD Sugarbush Trail, Trenary CERTIFIED ORGANIC SUGARBUSH WITH EQUIPMENT. $220,000 MLS#: 1114182 BRIAN OLSON
Sue Feldhauser Agent Cell: 906-360-2891
Charles Drury Agent Cell: 906-235-3198
Bob Anderson Agent Cell: 906-362-8388
Don Willson
Agent Cell: 906-202-0457
906-225-LAND (5263) • www.northernmichiganlandbrokers.com • www.premiumupproperties.com West, Marquette Toll-free 1-866-231-LAND • www.northernmichiganlandbrokers.com • 2552• 2552 USUS 4141West, Marquette