It’s a ten: Most presale renovations are beautification projects, like kitchen and bath upgrades using colors and finishes inspired by HGTV. But at 1866 Virnankay, which sold for $495,000, the owners went in a different direction: energy efficiency. The 1,518-square-foot ranch has solar panels, an EV charger, and a whole-house battery backup, as well as an updated furnace, AC, and electrical panel. The mostly invisible upgrades give the house the elusive home energy rating score of ten.
Owned for a century: The Craftsman at 1930 Cambridge, which sold for $1.25 million, was designed by Emil Lorch, the first dean of the U-M College of Architecture, and was one of his first local commissions. The 6-bed, 2,802-square-foot house has three fireplaces, two screened-in porches, and Pewabic tile in one of its 3.5 bathrooms. It was sold to Dora and Theophil Hildebrandt in 1927, who kept it in the family for almost a hundred years. Their pride in and care of the house even helped earn H. Mark Hildebrandt the Preservationist of the Year Award from the Historic District Commission in 2006.
Ready for anything: The 1,200-square-foot ranch at 4750 S. Zeeb has only one bedroom and one bath, and sold for $525,000. Its windows are positioned notably higher than those found in a typical residence, there are no trees or shrubs blocking sightlines, the entrance is in the rear, and the twelve-acre property comes with a 3,000-square-foot detached garage—all of which make this rural compound feel like it could weather a zombie apocalypse. Listing agent Austin Deacons was stunned when more than fifty groups came to the open house, most of them interested in the garage.
Dig These Digs: The house at 1267 Knight, which sold for $1.63 million, has 4,500 square feet of living space. In this 3-bed, 3.5-bath custom ranch, the primary suite is tucked into its own wing and opens to a sunporch. A large kitchen revolves around an oversized island, while outside, a Trex deck overlooks nearly an acre of woods and pollinator gardens, and a heated three-car garage could serve as a four-season studio. Sounds like the sort of home that would span multiple levels, right? Nope. It’s a single story—a rare layout for a house this size, appealing to those who want space, but not stairs.