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Home & Property

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Home & Property notes

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The Saginaw River cleanup, and the fish advisories downstreamDownstream Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay buyers should know about dioxin cleanup history, fish advisories, and floodplain sediment.
The Tittabawassee floodplain and a long cleanupDownstream of Dow's Midland plant, buyers near the Tittabawassee River floodplain should know about dioxin cleanup records and advisories.
Wells and septic outside townOutside Sanilac County's cities and villages, most homes rely on private wells and septic systems, so inspections, water tests, and perc tests matter before buying.
Wind country — turbines, leases, and who decidesIn Michigan's Thumb, wind turbines can affect rural land value, leases, views, local zoning, and state siting decisions.
Wind country: turbines on the skylineGratiot County's wind farms can affect rural land through turbine leases, views, tax base, local rules, and state siting decisions.
Wind energy: an active local issueNo wind farm operates in Montcalm County today, but recent proposals and state siting rules make wind energy worth asking about when buying rural land.
Benton Harbor's water and the lead-line replacementBenton Harbor's lead-in-water crisis triggered a full lead-service-line replacement program, and the city's water has since met lead standards.
Building near the Lake Michigan shoreline and on the dunesLake Michigan shoreline and dune properties can be affected by Michigan critical-dune and high-risk-erosion-area permits.
Buying in Ann Arbor's Old West Side? Check the local historic-district rulesAnn Arbor's Old West Side is a local historic district, so exterior work goes through the city's Historic District Commission process.
Buying in Flint? An honest, up-to-date look at the waterFlint's water crisis caused lasting harm, but the city's water meets standards today; buyers should still check service-line history and current reports.
Buying on (or near) a Cass County lake? A few things to knowCass County lake homes can come with managed lake levels, special assessments, lake associations, and lake-specific boating rules.
Buying on (or near) a Livingston County lake? A few things to knowLivingston County lake homes can come with managed lake levels, special assessments, lake associations, and lake-specific boating rules.
Buying on (or near) a St. Joseph County lake? A few things to knowSt. Joseph County lake homes can come with managed lake levels, special assessments, lake boards or associations, and lake-specific boating rules.
Buying on Ann Arbor's west side or in Scio Township? Know about the groundwater plumeA known 1,4-dioxane groundwater plume under parts of western Ann Arbor and Scio Township is worth checking by exact address.
Flint's land bank: cheap lots and fixer-uppers, with a catchThe Genesee County Land Bank sells Flint side lots and fixer-upper houses cheaply, but buyers need to budget for real rehab work.
Holland's local utility heats parts of downtownHolland's community-owned utility uses waste heat from power generation to warm a downtown snowmelt system, but utility and snowmelt coverage both depend on the address.
In Grand Haven, the city runs your electricity (and melts the downtown snow)Grand Haven has its own municipal electric utility, and its downtown snowmelt system helps keep streets and sidewalks clear in winter.
Living near the Cook nuclear plantHomes around Bridgman and Lake Township may sit inside the Cook Nuclear Plant emergency planning zone, with B-WARN alerts, KI pills, and a Know Your Zone map.
Living near the Palisades nuclear plantHomes around Covert and South Haven may sit inside the Palisades Nuclear Plant emergency planning zone while the plant is being brought back into service.
Monroe's tap water comes from Lake Erie — and what that means in summerMonroe draws drinking water from western Lake Erie, where summer algae blooms are watched closely and treated by the city water department.
Outside the cities, most Livingston homes are on a well and septic — inspect before you buyMost Livingston County township homes use private wells and septic systems, and the county does not require a sale-time inspection.
Outside town, most Cass County homes are on a well and septic — inspect before you buyMost Cass County township homes use private wells and septic systems, and the county does not require a sale-time inspection.
Outside town, most St. Joseph County homes are on a well and septic — inspect before you buyMost St. Joseph County township homes use private wells and septic systems, and the county does not require a sale-time inspection.
The Kalamazoo River cleanup, and the fish advisoryKalamazoo River properties in Allegan County sit along an active PCB/Superfund cleanup corridor with a fish advisory buyers should understand.
There's a nuclear plant on Lake Erie nearby — what that means if you're buying near MonroeMonroe sits within the Fermi 2 nuclear plant emergency planning zone, with routine siren tests, county planning, and a separate Fermi 1 history worth understanding.

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