04/12/2024
Soon, we hope to be putting onto the market a single-family home that was once a 6-bedroom, 3 bath duplex. It is only one house away from ours at 5133 Waters Road, Ann Arbor 48103.
It is just inside the Ann Arbor school district but politically in Lodi Township. The property is 2.2 acres, has a new septic system and is on a quiet, rural dirt road. Nice neighbors all around. Lots of open space and woods nearby. Only five miles - as the crows do fly - from main campus; a nice bike ride. Lots of wildlife, including mink, fox and 40+ species of birds in May on bird count day.
The home has two basements, two kitchens, and could be very interestingly configured for a large family or for workshop, lab, or office space in-home. Lots of great south-facing space for gardens and orchards. It was built in 1950 by Milton Pool and Clair Griffin (RIP) and served as a home on one side plus a small apartment and a tv/radio repair studio on the other.
When we first put it on the market two years ago our township was shocked to learn that it was a duplex and has been weirdly offensive to us about it - like it was our fault even though we bought it that way 10 years ago - which is why we are not yet back on the market! We are jumping through hoops. (It had been identified for 70 years as two addresses, 5133 and 5141 Waters Road, but the township says 5141 doesn't and didn't. Okay.)
Basements are a little damp seasonally and the home needs exterior painting, but it is prepped for painting. We don’t want to decide colors for the new owners. Most windows have been replaced during the last 6 years. Oil heat on one side was recently replaced by propane. Upstairs bathrooms are functional but small and need upgrading IMO, basement one is a Pittsburgh/farmer’s bathroom.
We will be looking for something like $320k but that is not finalized. Just wanted to let friends and friends of friends know this is something to think about and for the location and size is remarkably low priced. Not going to make anyone happy who needs a s**c and span “finished” everything, though, but there are two 18-hole disc golf courses a couple hundred feet away. 😁