Healthy communities need all types of residents
Full-time and seasonal. Working and retired. Young and old.
Everyone wins when community members support each other, read the frequently asked questions
We count on each other to make the community successful. Some people provide essential services and the amenities that make our area so desirable, and it’s getting harder for them to live here.
The Opportunity
One way to make the Harbor Springs area even stronger is to help more people put down roots through home ownership so they can contribute for years to come. We can make a start at closing the housing affordability gap for some year-round people that we need and want. We have all the ingredients to be a world-class community, but the availability of housing is one of our biggest challenges.
The Biggest Roadblocks to Homeownership
Lack of new home building - (especially starter homes)
Tight supply of existing homes
Price of land, building materials, and labor
Shortage of skilled tradespeople
Inability to compete with cash buyers
Existing homes being turned into seasonal residences or short-term rentals
High mortgage rates
Our Solution
A Community Land Trust (CLT). This is an approach working successfully in other resort communities like Martha’s Vineyard, Orcas Island, Lake Tahoe, and Jackson Hole.
The concept is an extension of how a land conservancy works – but for homes instead of land. The concept does a few important things:
Reserves homes for year-round residents
Reduces the price of selected homes now and for future buyers
Prevents a home from being used as a short-term rental
Allows local homebuyers who need a mortgage to compete with cash buyers
Harbor Area Residential Trust (through Northern Homes) is a non-profit conservancy for homes. We are stewards of high-quality, perpetually affordable homes.
HART was started by a group of local people who researched housing solutions being used successfully in other resort towns. Our mission is to preserve the beauty of our area and strengthen it by helping more local residents put down roots through home ownership.
HART acts as the Harbor Springs arm of Northern Homes Community Development Corporation. Northern Homes has a proven history of developing and managing homes in a 6-county area, strong financial resources and deep experience.
HART is focused on the area that is roughly the Harbor Springs School District geographic boundaries (about 140 sq mi).
Local.
Philanthropic.
Non-Government.
This is a private, non-profit effort with no government funds or red tape – just local people who want to keep our community healthy and vibrant. We have the ability to tailor projects to meet the Harbor Springs area’s high expectations.
-
People Helping Start HART
Bill Mulder
Andrea Jacobs
Bonnie Kulp
Randy Seiss
Gill Whitman
Jane MacKenzie
-
HART Has Received Encouragement From
The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
The Little Traverse Bay Housing Partnership
Housing North
Northern Homes Community Development Corporation