Healthy communities need all types of residents

Full-time and seasonal. Working and retired. Young and old.

Everyone wins when community members support each other, read the frequently asked questions

We count on each other to make the community successful. Some people provide essential services and the amenities that make our area so desirable, and it’s getting harder for them to live here.

 

The Opportunity

 

One way to make the Harbor Springs area even stronger is to help more people put down roots through home ownership so they can contribute for years to come. We can make a start at closing the housing affordability gap for some year-round people that we need and want. We have all the ingredients to be a world-class community, but the availability of housing is one of our biggest challenges.

 

The Biggest Roadblocks to Homeownership

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

  • Tight supply of existing homes

  • Price of land, building materials, and labor

  • Shortage of skilled tradespeople

  • Inability to compete with cash buyers

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

  • High mortgage rates

 

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, and Jackson Hole.

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 (through Northern Homes) is a non-profit conservancy for homes. We are stewards of high-quality, perpetually affordable homes.

HART was started by a group of local people who researched housing solutions being used successfully in other resort towns. Our mission is to preserve the beauty of our area and strengthen it by helping more local residents put down roots through home ownership.

HART acts as the Harbor Springs arm of Northern Homes Community Development Corporation. Northern Homes has a proven history of developing and managing homes in a 6-county area, strong financial resources and deep experience.

HART is focused on the area that is roughly the Harbor Springs School District geographic boundaries (about 140 sq mi).

Local.

Philanthropic.

Non-Government.

This is a private, non-profit effort – just local people who want to keep our community healthy and vibrant. We have the ability to tailor projects to meet the Harbor Springs area’s high expectations.

  • People Working on HART

    Bill Mulder

    Andrea Jacobs

    Bonnie Kulp

    Randy Seiss

    Gill Whitman

    Jane MacKenzie

  • HART Has Received Encouragement From

    The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation

    The Frey Foundation

    The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

    The Little Traverse Bay Housing Partnership

    Housing North

    Northern Homes Community Development Corporation

How to help

Donate land

Donate a house

Donate money

Put HART in your estate plan

Refer a possible homebuyer