A place to go: Sometimes the smallest rooms make the biggest impression. 314 Montgomery, which sold for $675,000, has refinished hardwood floors, a refreshed interior, and a new back porch. But the shining star of the remodeled 1,243-square-foot home is the newly added bathroom off the primary bedroom that completely transformed the layout. An existing bathroom and powder room were also updated. In a neighborhood where older homes often come with just one bathroom, the updates brought modern convenience to this 1929 Craftsman.
Cultivated appeal: It’s easy to compare kitchens and square footage, but gardens are trickier. Three recent sales offer three answers to what makes a yard appealing. At 385 Hazelwood, which sold for $410,000, a mature perennial garden mixes irises, hostas, ornamental grasses, and pollinator-friendly plants, promising blooms (and bees) all summer. The yard at 2980 Devonshire, which sold for $2.285 million, pairs professionally maintained landscaping with a meandering creek, towering oaks, and brick paths winding past quiet garden vignettes—decorative groupings of plants and ornaments. And at 4775 Bridgeway, which sold for $895,000, a Japanese-style Zen garden is tucked close to the house, while the Trex deck leads to an expansive lawn and frontage on Bridgeway Lake.
Flashback: Front Yard Gardens (Sept. 2016)
Work in progress: The listing for 1307 Lutz offers a glimpse of a remodel paused mid-project. When the 3-bedroom, 1-bath, 1,192-square-foot home went on sale, it had multiple renovation projects in progress: from unfinished walls to exposed beams, and even some supplies left on-site. Even so, its desirable location and classic 1940s bones helped it sell for $399,000.
Dig These Digs: The custom contemporary at 3444 Wagner Woods is designed to enjoy every moment of Michigan’s short summers. Set on a tree-filled acre bordering the Botsford Preserve, it has a three-level deck, a screened-in porch, a hot tub, and a koi pond, making the outdoors feel like another room of the house. Inside, a twenty-four-foot foyer creates a dramatic first impression, while a Motawi tile kitchen backsplash adds a distinctly Ann Arbor touch. The 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,437-square-foot home sold for $1.09 million, but a Michigan summer is priceless.