Preserving homes for year-round residents.

Area people have done a great job conserving land for recreation and protecting water resources. The next step is to preserve homes for full-time residents who make our community work.

A strong community is rooted with year-round people.

 

The Problem

 

We are losing year-round people from our area. They are leaving or not moving here because they can’t find a place to live at a reasonable price. Why does it matter? A thriving community needs more than seasonal residents and retirees. We need people to provide medical services, work in our schools, provide public safety functions and skilled trades services. They are also the ones who volunteer with non-profit organizations, coach kids’ sports, and serve in civic roles.

There are a number of year-round residents with good incomes who would love to buy a home in the Harbor Springs area right now and make a long term commitment to our community. We would like to help.

 

The Biggest Roadblocks to Homeownership

  • Lack of new home building - (especially starter homes)

  • Tight supply of existing homes

  • Price of building materials

  • Inability to compete with cash buyers

  • Existing homes being turned into seasonal residences or short-term rentals

 

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, Jackson Hole and Aspen.

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

Learn More About Community Land Trusts

Harbor Area Residential Trust (HART) is a private non-profit conservancy that holds land on behalf of the community.

This is a non-profit started by a group of local volunteers who researched housing solutions used successfully in other resort towns.

HART is being set up as the local arm of Northern Homes Community Development Corporation, an existing Community Land Trust. Northern Homes has a proven history of developing and managing homes in a 6-county area, strong financial resources and deep experience.

HART intends to serve the area that is roughly the Harbor Springs School District (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. HART’s organizers have the ability to tailor its projects to meet the Harbor Springs area’s high expectations.

  • People Helping Start HART

    Bill Mulder

    Rob MacKenzie

    Andrea Jacobs

    Chuck Glass

    Bonnie Kulp

    Randy Seiss

    Scott Smith

    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

  • Let's work together

    Please join this grassroots effort and make a big impact for our community.

  • How to Help Now During Our Start-Up

    Learn about Community Land Trusts

    Spread the Word

  • How to help in the future

    Donate a house

    Donate land

    Donate money

    Put HART in your estate plan

  • Do you know someone you think would like support this effort?

    Put them in contact with us: info@harborarearesidentialtrust.org