Did you know there is a township in Michigan called California? Yes, it is true. I have been there. It is a small township of approximately 900 residents near the State line of Indiana and Michigan. It has a small town as part of it called ‘Ray’ which sits on both sides of the State line. Mostly a farming community, California was incorporated in 1846. There is not much to see there when you drive through the small township, but the sign below did catch my attention.
Last September I took a vacation to North Carolina, and took a drive through the Smoky Mountain National Park on my way home with my wife. When we began our journey on the Blue Ridge parkway, it was slightly rainy. As the day progressed, we left the Blue Ridge and took the route through the Smoky Mountains. When we reached the parking area where there is a sight seeing point on the State line of North Carolina and Tennessee, the fog was all around us. This made for an interesting setting, and I had this photo taken of me on this journey. I hope you enjoy it.
Michael Delaware, Realtor and Author in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, elevation 5046 Feet at the North Carolina & Tennessee State line in September 2012.
Recently I had to take a drive to Nashville, Michigan to look at some houses for a client. The community has a population of around 1600 people, and historically was a milling town for flour and it also had some saw mills. In the 1920′s it was the main railroad stop between Grand Rapids and Jackson, Michigan. Today it is a community that still retains many classic homes, and some residents commute each day to other areas.
Downtown Nashville, Michigan
Allegan Michigan has a beautiful boardwalk system in downtown along the river.
There are a few communities that really have beautiful downtown riverfront areas. There are several towns in the Southwest, Michigan region that this is a highlight of the downtown.
Cities such as Battle Creek, Allegan, Kalamazoo and Marshall have beautiful riverfront walkways and sometimes shops along the rivers of their downtown district. Allegan has a magnicent boardwalk and old iron bridge in the downtown district, and Battle Creek with its overlooks, benches and shade trees make for an inviting stroll along the river.
A river going through downtown is a great highlight that not every community can boast, and not all that have them present them in the same way. The ones that do feature them bring a sense of beauty into the district that brings people back for more. There is nothing quite like a seasonal stroll along a beautiful river in a downtown district.
Battle Creek, Michigan has a beautiful riverside walkway in downtown.
The Fort Custer Recreation Areais located just 1/4 mile east of the village of Augusta,
A biker finds his way down one of the many trails at the Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Michigan. It comprises 3,033 acres located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The terrain consists of forests and prairies, and the park features three lakes. It also is adjacent to the Kalamazoo river.
The Fort Custer Recreation Area has as one of its highlights an excellent trail system throughout perfect for hiking, biking and running. During the winter the trails are used for hiking, cross-country skiing and snow mobiling. The lakes offer fishing year round, and canoeing and boating during the summer months.
There are also picnic pavilions, camp grounds and a 1000 foot sandy beach along one of the lakes for outdoor fun. You can also rent a cabin if you do not have camping gear. There is hunting allowed in certain areas of the park as well, during certain seasons.
Flowers and plants abound along the trails in the Fort Custer Recreation Area.
The Fort Custer Recreation Area was originally farmland that was acquired by the federal government to establish Camp Custer, and induction and military training center for the U.S. Army during WWII. The land was deeded to the State of Michigan, under President Nixon’s Legacy of Parks in 1971.
Along the trails one will find a variety of plant species, flowers and berries. There is also a lot of wildlife. Taking a walk along the trails is one of my favorite summer activities, and one can spend an entire weekend there and not see all of the trails which span a distance of over 28 miles. Fort Custer Recreation Area is one of the most exciting getaways in the Southwest Michigan area.
The Fort Custer Recreation Area is a great place to enjoy some outdoor fun.
If you are considering buying a home in Athens, Michigan, this is an area of Calhoun County that you want to work with an experienced Realtor who knows the area.
Athens is a great community in Southern Calhoun County.
When buying a home in Athens, Michigan you need to be aware that both Athens and Union City in some of the outlying areas have a high water table in the land. What that means is that there is a lot of marsh land and partial marsh land, and when you get outside the village of Athens, you may encounter flooded basements, and yards at times of high rain.
Buying a home in Athens, Michigan is a
The Athens area qualifies for USDA Rural Development financing.
good choice if you are buying right in the village, as they have a city water and sewer system, and most homes are connected to it. The community is very close and friendly as well.
The downtown grocer, although it may be small, is competitive with rival larger chain stores in Battle Creek, and many people that live in Athens use them as their main source of groceries. If you are interested in buying a home in Athens, Michigan, get ready for some cozy small town life.
According to the U.S. Census in 2000, the population was 1111 exactly in Athens. Regardless of size, Athens harvests maple syrup annually from the maple trees in the village, and sells the syrup as a hometown trademark of the community each year. They also host summer festivals and activities, and have a beautiful waterfall in the main City Park in downtown.
The town was named after Athens, New York, where many of its early residents came from. The first settler to Athens was Isaac Crossett, who built a house there in 1832. The first retail store was built in the village in 1854 by William Simons.
Athens became officially incorporated as a village in 1895. So the community has a proud history, and if you are looking into buying a home in Athens, Michigan, visit my website at: www.michaeldelaware.com or give me a call directly at 269-441-8182 and I can start sending you listing information on properties available in the area.
Athens is a accessible to Battle Creek.
Some advice for buying a home in Galesburg, Michigan to those new to the community would be to work with an experienced Realtor that knows the area. One of the best things about Galesburg, Michigan is that it is located between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, on the North side of the Kalamazoo River off M-96.
Rural Development loans are a good choice for first time home buyers in Galesburg, Michigan.
This makes the community accessible to both larger cities, but still classified as a rural community according to the US Department of Agriculture maps for Single Family homes in their Rural Development loans programs.
The Rural Development loan program is the best first time home buyer program in existence right now for first time home buyers, and it is my best advice for buying a home in Galesburg, Michigan. When you are using this program, it allows you buy the home for 100% financing, requiring no down payment.
It also allows for the seller to pay for up to 6% in closing costs, and you can even roll certain repairs into the loan if they are eligible per the program.
So Galesburg, Michigan completely qualifies for this program, and it has enabled many new
Buying a home in Galesburg, Michigan is easy when working with an experienced Realtor.
buyers to become home owners because of it. If you do not qualify for the USDA Rural Development loan program, then the next best advice for buying a home in Galesburg, Michigan is to look into the FHA loan program.
This one is similar in many ways to Rural Development, but it requires just a 3 ½ down payment from the buyer. There is also the FHA 203k program, which is a version of the main FHA loan, but it allows for certain repairs to be included in the loan. This type of loan can be more difficult, so it is usually good advice for buying a home in Galesburg, Michigan that USDA Rural Development be explored first.
I am an experienced Realtor that has sold many homes in this area, and I can be reached directly at: 269-441-8182 or through my website at: www.michaeldelaware.com.
Galesburg is conveniently located between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
Marshall, Michigan boasts one of the largest historic districts in the nation. Over 850 historic landmarks comprise the district in Marshall, Michigan.
Downtown Marshall, Michigan
A cross section of 19th and 20th Century architectural styles, Marshall has some of the best preserved homes in the State of Michigan as well as the nation.
The downtown shopping district in Marshall is unlike any other in the County. It has a great deal of the original buildings preserved and in use by store owners and businesses year round. It is hard to find quality available space in the downtown area, even with Michigan’s struggling economy in recent years.
The city according to the 2000 U.S. Census has a population of just under 7500 people.
The shopping district of downtown Marshall, Michigan
The pride of ownership of their historic homes is prevalent in the community. When the city was established in 1830, he early settlers expected Marshall to become the State capital. The new city drew dozens of lawyers, doctors, land speculators and business owners for this reason. The city founders, Sidney and George Ketchum, named the town after Chief Justice of the United States John Marshall from Virginia, as they knew him well and they greatly admired him.
Today Marshall continues to take care of their over 850 historic landmarks that span all areas of the city. Tourists from all over the State and U.S. travel to Marshall to admire the architecture annually.
If you are considering relocating to Calhoun County, you might consider a move to historic Marshall and settle there. The combined downtown shopping district, good quality schools, parks and friendly community are great magnets for drawing you there.
If you would like to find out more about property available in Marshall, you can search it on my website at: www.michaeldelaware.com or contact me directly at 269-441-8182 to arrange for me to email you current listings available in the area. I look forward to working with you.
Take a carriage ride through historic downtown Marshall, Michigan.
