Harbor Country Life
Oct 2008
My Harbor Country
Summer 2008 was an active one in Harbor Country. The gas price crunch pushed a spike in visitors to the area. The summer rush has now come to an end. It is now the best time to visit the area. Most people pour over to Michigan during the height of activity, but September and October are honestly the best times to visit the area!
community focus - Union Pier
Union Pier was founded on an ethic of hard work without visions of a port to rival Chicago as was Wessel Whittaker's notion in New Buffalo. There was nature's bounty to be harvested here. Tree trunks measured five feet and more in diameter. Trees rose 60 feet to the lowest branches. Squirrels, we are assured ran through the community without ever touching the ground.
John Gowdy arrived from New York and bought all the timberland he could afford. He brought in additional partners who understood that it was necessary to ship Union Pier's bounty to Chicago. And so, a group of men built a "Pier" in Union" at the foot of Berrien Street. It was constructed as a 600-foot edifice jutting into Lake Michigan. a 130-ton schooner was built on the adjacent beach.
courtesy harbor country chamber used with permission
the market (Jan-Aug 2008)
Lake Effect and fruit
Fall is time for apples, pumpkins and falling leaves in southwest Michigan. Southwest Michigan actually would not be able to sustain such a fruit crop like apples or grapes without the big lake just miles away.
Lake waters provide a huge source of heat for the region. Water has a very high “specific heat” which means it takes a lot of energy to heat up or cool down an object. This high specific heat is why the lake provides a natural heating/cooling mechanism during the winter and summer months. “Cooler or warmer by the lake” is commonplace in weather forecasting.
courtesy SWMAR, New Buffalo to Bridgman
Fall - The time to buy a home?
Michigan in fall is the best time of the year to visit, but is it historically a good time to buy? The Seller market has become savvy enough over the years to recognize fall brings “bargain shoppers”. Many buyers tend to believe that deals are abound post Labor Day. Regardless of the type or deal that is struck, fall in Harbor Country is historically a strong period of sales. Note in a strong 2005 market, total units sold in October/November rivaled the months of Jun-Aug 2005. A noticeable sales dip occurs during December with a rebound for the next yearly sales cycle in March.
design/project mgmt Services
Chuck Heaver Consulting offers design services for homes in Chicago and Michigan. We also offer development, construction management and other real estate related services around the lake.
Oct Weather in michigan
Average High - 62 Average Low - 42
Normal Rainfall - 3.27”
Hottest Oct Day Ever - 92 degrees on Oct 6, 1963
Daylight Loss - 80 Minutes
October 1: 7:43a Sunrise/7:29p Sunset (11h 46m)
October 31: 8:17a Sunrise/6:43p Sunset (10h 26m)
