The Role of Local Real Estate in Our Communities Economies

Real estate is more than just buying and selling homes. I know, shocking right? But stick with me here, because in small communities like ours in Clare County, the real estate market quietly does a lot of heavy lifting for the local economy, and it doesn’t get nearly enough credit at bar stools and BBQs.

When a home sells, the economic ripple effect is broader than most people realize. Inspectors show up to deliver bad news professionally. Appraisers arrive to confirm what you already suspected. Surveyors walk your yard with purpose. Title companies handle the closing, which is essentially a very expensive paper-signing ceremony. Then the movers (AKA family and the people you find out are your real friends fast) show up, and the new owners realize the paint color is, in fact, not their problem anymore. Except now it is. So they paint, renovate, landscape, and furnish, and suddenly half of Clare County’s contractors are booked out six weeks and the hardware store is out of paint rollers.

Property taxes are another important piece of the puzzle, and I say this as someone whose job depends on home values going up. Those taxes fund schools, roads, emergency services, and the other infrastructure we all use while pretending we built it ourselves. When home values rise, the tax base grows. When they fall, everyone remembers they have opinions about the economy.

New residents bring economic activity with them. A family relocating from a larger city isn’t just buying a house. They’re enrolling kids in local schools, shopping local, eating local, and generally participating in the community whether the community is ready for them or not. That has a genuine, measurable impact. We have measured it. It’s good.

Real estate investment, rentals, renovations, new developments, creates jobs and adds to the local housing stock. And frankly, our local communities are starving for affordable three-bed, two-bath ranch style new construction homes. All of which contributes to healthier, more vibrant local economies, which is the kind of thing that sounds like a chamber of commerce brochure but is actually just true.

I’m proud to work in an industry that connects people to this community. Every transaction I’m part of is about more than just real estate. It’s about people planting roots here in Clare County, like my family has been doing since the 1800s.

So what did March actually look like?

March was a seller’s market, but a mild one, which is probably the most Clare County way to do anything. A balanced market typically carries around a six month supply of homes. With 128 active listings and 22 homes sold in March, we’re sitting at roughly 5.8 months of supply, which puts us right on the edge of balanced market territory. Sellers still had a slight edge, but buyers had real options to choose from. Homes averaged 34 days on market, so things were moving but nobody was panicking. With 52 new listings coming in, inventory is healthy and building. If you’re thinking about selling, the timing is still solid. And if you’re buying, this is actually one of the better moments you’ve had in a while to take your time and make a smart decision.

My office team is growing, and I couldn’t be more proud of the agents making it a great place to work. Good things are happening here and we’re doing it the right way. If you’re just starting out in real estate or an experienced agent ready for something better, let’s have a conversation. My current agents will tell you, it’s a pretty amazing place to work.

Daniel Dwyer-Snyder is an Associate Broker with CENTURY 21 Signature Realty in Clare. He can be reached at 989-321-9927.