The Perry family had their hands full on their Northern Michigan home hunt. Explore the three homes they narrowed it down to and vote for which home they selected for their blended family of seven.
Pat and Lee Perry were on the hunt for the perfect home for their blended family of seven. With three kids currently out of the house and twin 11th graders still at home, this family knew they needed to find a place with as much space as possible while staying in Grand Traverse County. Moving out of the county was not an option, as they wanted to keep the twins at the same school and needed to be close enough to take care of aging parents.
Having attended high school in Traverse City, Lee is no stranger to the area, while Pat is originally from out east. They moved their family to Northern Michigan in the early 2000s for work and to raise their children around both sets of grandparents. From there, they fully immersed themselves in the community and haven’t looked back since.
You can find their family outdoors enjoying Northern Michigan’s beauty or downtown checking out everything Traverse City has to offer. “This is such a neat area filled with culture, amazing food and endless activities that has grown so much in the past 45 years. You’d also be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place on Earth,” Lee says.
Related Read: The Northern Dream: Newlyweds Hunt for First Home in TC.
Heading into their home search, Pat and Lee knew they wanted a house in a great location not too far from downtown, at least three bedrooms, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, an open floorplan and space for entertaining family and community members. With the help of real estate agent Kelly Leipprandt of Live Local Realty, this couple was able to look at more than 12 houses before finally finding their dream home.
“Kelly was a counselor to us and took the time to get to know both Lee and me,” Pat says. “She dug deeper every chance she got, and we truly valued her opinion every step of the way. She did a fantastic job and constantly worked to find a home that was perfect for our blended family.”
After viewing more than 12 homes, Pat and Lee, with Kelly’s help, narrowed it to their top three.
Finalist No.1
Pine Meadows, Traverse City
This 4-bed, 3-bath 3,256 sq. ft. Traverse City home was located two miles from downtown and within walking distance from West Senior High, where the twins attend school. Everything in the home felt brand-new and turnkey, and it had a very open and modern floorplan. There was plenty of space for entertaining, however, there were hardly any trees on the lot and the basement still needed carpet or hardwood. Overall, it was a beautiful home at the end of the neighborhood with new, contemporary finishes.
ASKING PRICE: $550,000
Related Read: Design & Build Team Transform Downtown Marquette Condo.
Finalist No. 2
Hemlock Road, Cedar
Located on a double lot, this spacious 3-bed, 3-bath home featured an open floor plan, updates throughout, fireplace, hardwood floors and a beautiful kitchen with quartz counters and plentiful cabinetry. Some of the most recent updates included new carpet, paint, flooring, a bathroom remodel and new roof shingles. It was located close to everything both Leland and Glen Arbor had to offer, however, it was in a different school district. It was also the smallest home at 3,248 sq. ft. but was fully updated with gorgeous finishes.
ASKING PRICE: $450,000
Related Read: The Northern Dream: Young Couple Hunts for Home with Land.
Finalist No. 3
Stone Ridge, Traverse City
This 4-bed, 3.5-bath home was the largest option at 3,394 sq. ft. It featured a spacious main floor master bedroom, vaulted ceilings, a bonus room, theater room, wet bar and a workshop with plenty of storage. The backyard had a patio perfect for entertaining and lush landscaping, and it was only two miles from the beach and downtown. While this home had the space and location the family wanted, it was at the absolute top of their budget and they had to factor in the home needing a new roof in the next few years and HOA fees and restrictions.
ASKING PRICE: $599,000
What Home Did the Perry Family Pick?
Discover which home the Perrys bought, and vote for the property you would have chosen: link.mynorth.com/perryfamily
Rachel Soulliere leads web content and social media for MyNorth Media and Traverse Magazine. When she’s not posting new articles online or working on social media strategy, she’s most likely traveling or celebrating Northern Michigan. Follow her adventures on Instagram @rlsoulliere.
