$1,680,000
SOLD SEP 8, 2025

4031 Birch Dr Honor, MI 49640

4 Beds
2 Baths
1,638 Sq Ft
0.46 Acres

Recently Sold

$1,026 Per Sq Ft

1% Below List Price

75 Days on Market

Highlights

  • Private Waterfront
  • Hilly Lot
  • Terrace
  • Deck
  • Wood Flooring
  • Enclosed Patio or Porch

About This Home

As of September 2025

The Fern Hill Cottage, a historic Lake Michigan shoreline retreat built in 1919 by a Chicago inventor, offers a rare opportunity to own a well-preserved, relaxing lakefront property on Big Platte Lake, renowned for its pristine water, fishing, and river access to Lake Michigan. The current owners have maintained its vintage charm with cedar siding throughout, panoramic windows, and outdoor spaces, while updating key areas like the kitchen, baths, and mechanical systems. Additions to the cottage expanded the living space and have turned this quaint cottage into a sprawling rambler home usable year-round. Located near Sleepy Bear Dunes, Frankfort, and Point Betsie Lighthouse, the cottage provides convenient access to the region's wineries, charming towns, and outdoor attractions, making it an ideal blend of historic charm and modern comfort in Northwest Michigan. This unique investment will bring years of enjoyment and a lifetime of Northern Michigan memories.

Last Agent to Sell the Property

Tom Rumble

EXP Realty LLC License #6501299700 Listed on: 06/03/2025

EXP Realty LLC

Home Details

Home Type

  • Single Family

Est. Annual Taxes

  • $999

Year Built

  • Built in 1919

Lot Details

  • 0.46 Acre Lot
  • Lot Dimensions are 100 x 200 x 100 x 200
  • Private Waterfront
  • 100 Feet of Waterfront
  • Decorative Fence
  • Level Lot
  • Hilly Lot

Parking

  • 2 Car Attached Garage

Home Design

  • Asphalt Roof
  • Wood Siding

Interior Spaces

  • 1,638 Sq Ft Home
  • 1-Story Property
  • Wood Burning Fireplace
  • Insulated Windows
  • Living Room with Fireplace
  • Wood Flooring
  • Crawl Space
  • Laundry on main level

Kitchen

  • Microwave
  • Dishwasher

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

  • 4 Main Level Bedrooms
  • 2 Full Bathrooms

Outdoor Features

  • Water Access
  • Property is near a lake
  • Deck
  • Enclosed Patio or Porch
  • Terrace

Utilities

  • Forced Air Heating and Cooling System
  • Heating System Uses Natural Gas
  • Well
  • Natural Gas Water Heater
  • Septic Tank
  • Septic System
  • High Speed Internet

Home Details

Home Type

Single Family

Est. Annual Taxes

$999

Year Built

Built in 1919

Lot Details

0

Parking

2

Listing Details

  • Property Sub-Type: Single Family Residence
  • Property Type: Residential
  • New Construction: No
  • ArchitecturalStyle: Ranch
  • Stories: 1
  • Year Built: 1919
  • Location Property Info:Property Sub-Type: Single Family Residence
  • OfficeContract Info:List PriceSqFt2: 1037.79
  • General Property Info:New Construction2: No
  • General Property Info:Lot Dimensions: 100 x 200 x 100 x 200
  • General Property Info:Waterfront3: Yes
  • General Property Info:Basement: No
  • General Property Info:Total Fin SqFt All Levels: 1638.0
  • General Property Info:Main Level Primary: Yes
  • Tax Info:Annual Property Tax: 999.0
  • Tax Info:Zoning3: RES
  • Waterfront Options:Water Access YN: Yes
  • Heat Type:Forced Air: Yes
  • Air Conditioning:Central Air: Yes
  • Sewer:Septic System: Yes
  • Heat Source:Natural Gas3: Yes
  • General Property Info:Total Fireplaces: 1.0
  • Lot Description:Level: Yes
  • Waterfront Options:Water Frontage3: 100.0
  • Windows:Insulated Windows: Yes
  • General Property Info:Fireplace: Yes
  • Lot Description:Rolling Hills: Yes
  • Appliances Microwave: Yes
  • Water Heater:Natural Gas4: Yes
  • Substructure:Crawl Space: Yes
  • Utilities Attached:High-Speed Internet: Yes
  • Landscape:Decor Fence: Yes
  • Roofing:Asphalt2: Yes
  • General Property Info:SqFt Above Grade: 1638.0
  • Laundry Features Laundry Closet: Yes
  • General Property Info Garage YN: Yes
  • Flooring:Wood Floor: Yes
  • Architectural Style:Ranch: Yes
  • Remarks Misc: Public Remarks: The Fern Hill Cottage, a historic Lake Michigan shoreline retreat built in 1919 by a Chicago inventor, offers a rare opportunity to own a well-preserved, relaxing lakefront property on Big Platte Lake, renowned for its pristine water, fishing, and river access to Lake Michigan. The current owners have maintained its vintage charm with cedar siding throughout, panoramic windows, and outdoor spaces, while updating key areas like the kitchen, baths, and mechanical systems. Additions to the cottage expanded the living space and have turned this quaint cottage into a sprawling rambler home usable year-round.
  • Remarks Misc: Agent Only Remarks: Home is under video and audio surveillance.
  • Special Features: None
  • Property Sub Type: Detached

Interior Features

  • Appliances: Dishwasher, Microwave
  • Flooring: Wood
  • Fireplace Features: Living Room, Wood Burning
  • Fireplace: Yes
  • Fireplaces: 1
  • Total Bedrooms: 4
  • Main Level Bedrooms: 4
  • Full Bathrooms: 2
  • Total Bathrooms: 2
  • Basement: Crawl Space
  • LivingArea: 1638.0
  • Window Features: Insulated Windows
  • General Property Info:Stories2: 1.0
  • Fireplace:Living: Yes
  • Appliances Dishwasher: Yes
  • Fireplace:Wood Burning: Yes

Exterior Features

  • Construction Materials: Wood Siding
  • List Price: 1699900.0
  • Lot Features: Level, Rolling Hills
  • Patio and Porch Features: Covered, Deck, Enclosed, Patio, Porch(es), Screened, Terrace
  • Road Surface Type: Paved
  • Roof: Asphalt
  • Water Body Name: Big Platte Lake
  • Waterfront Features: Lake
  • Waterfront: Yes
  • Access Feat:Accessibility Features2: No
  • Driveway Paved: Yes
  • Exterior Material:Wood Siding: Yes
  • Patio and Porch Features:Porch(es): Yes
  • Patio and Porch Features:Deck(s): Yes
  • Patio And Porch Features:Patio: Yes
  • Patio And Porch Features:Enclosed: Yes
  • Patio And Porch Features:Covered: Yes
  • Patio And Porch Features:Screened: Yes
  • Patio And Porch Features:Terrace: Yes

Garage/Parking

  • Attached Garage: Yes
  • Garage Spaces: 2.0
  • Garage: Yes
  • Parking Features: Attached
  • Parking Features Attached2: Yes
  • General Property Info:Garage Spaces: 2.0

Utilities

  • Cooling: Central Air
  • Cooling: Yes
  • Heating: Forced Air
  • Heating: Yes
  • Laundry Features: Laundry Closet
  • Sewer: Septic Tank
  • Utilities: High-Speed Internet
  • Water Source: Well
  • Water Well: Yes

Association/Amenities

  • Water Fea Amenities:All Sports: Yes
  • Water Fea Amenities:Private Frontage: Yes

Lot Info

  • Lot Size Acres: 0.46
  • Lot Size Area: 0.46
  • Lot Dimensions: 100 x 200 x 100 x 200
  • Lot Size Sq Ft: 20038.0
  • Zoning Description: RES

Tax Info

  • Tax Annual Amount: 999.0
  • Tax Year: 2024

Ownership History

Date Name Owned For Owner Type

Purchase Details

Closed on
Sep 29, 2006
Sold by
Sells Sally L
Bought by
Crocker Advisors Llc
Current Estimated Value
$1,661,343
Source: Public Records

Range of Values:

--
Value Increase
--
Percent Increase
--
Adjusted for Inflation
Collateral Analytics

Collateral Analytics Collateral Analytics AVMs (Automated Valuation Model) employ a number of statistical approaches combined with neighborhood-specific comparable selection guarantees the most up-to-date and precise valuations.

Not Available

Collateral Analytics does not have data for the current month. Please view the chart for historical values.

ICE

ICE Mortgage Technology ICE Mortgage Technology’s AVM (Automated Valuation Model) is a state-of-the-art online residential property valuation tool that provides a quick and accurate estimate of the value of almost any home in the U.S.

Not Available

ICE Mortgage Technology does not have data for the current month. Please view the chart for historical values.

First American

First American First American Data & Analytics’ next-generation AVM combines unrivaled data assets with a blended ensemble of valuation models to produce highly accurate, reliable valuations you can trust.

Not Available

First American does not have data for the current month. Please view the chart for historical values.

Quantarium

Quantarium Quantarium’s valuation service, repeatedly proven the industry’s most accurate and comprehensive, is supercharged with a self-learning and auto-tuning AI engine that continually becomes smarter and more accurate as it processes daily inputs from the industry’s leading RE data lake.

Not Available

Quantarium does not have data for the current month. Please view the chart for historical values.

Average Value
Not Available
List Price
Sold Price
Create a Home Valuation Report for This Property
The Home Valuation Report is an in-depth analysis detailing your home's value as well as a comparison with similar homes in the area

Home Values in the Area

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value in this Area

Source: Public Records

Purchase History

Date Type Sale Price Title Company
Grant Deed $560,000 --
Source: Public Records

Property History

Date Event Price List to Sale Price per Sq Ft
09/08/2025 09/08/25 Sold $1,680,000 -1.2% $1,026 / Sq Ft
08/17/2025 08/17/25 Pending -- -- --
06/03/2025 06/03/25 For Sale $1,699,900 -- $1,038 / Sq Ft
Source: MichRIC

Tax History Compared to Growth

Source: Public Records

Tax History

Year Tax Paid Tax Assessment Tax Assessment Total Assessment is a certain percentage of the fair market value that is determined by local assessors to be the total taxable value of land and additions on the property. Land Improvement
2025 $1,989 $314,900 $0 $0
2024 $1,941 $267,800 $0 $0
2023 $1,857 $238,100 $0 $0
2022 -- $215,000 $0 $0
2021 -- $198,800 $0 $0
2020 -- -- $0 $0
2019 -- -- $0 $0
2018 -- -- $0 $0
2017 -- -- $0 $0
2016 -- -- $0 $0
2011 -- -- $0 $0
Source: Public Records

Agents Affiliated with this Home

  • Tom Rumble

    Seller's Agent in 2025

    Tom Rumble

    EXP Realty LLC

    (616) 250-6751

    36 Total Sales

    Tom Rumble
    Section Image
See All Agents

Map

Source: MichRIC

MLS Number: 25025896

MichRIC

APN: 10-025-007-00

Michigan Benzie County Honor 49640

4031 Birch Dr, Honor, MI

Sold

Detached

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.

MichRIC Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright 2025 MichRIC, LLC. All rights reserved.

Nearby Homes