4031 Birch Drive, Honor, MI 49640

$1,680,000
Property Type: Residential Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 2 Square Footage: 1,638 Lot Size (sq. ft.): 20,038 Status: Sold
Current Price: $1,699,900 List Date: 6/03/2025 Last Modified: 9/10/2025

Description

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.

Supplements: 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.

More Information MLS# 25025896

Location & Property Info

Cross Streets: Birch Pt / Birch Dr. Property Sub-Type: Single Family Residence Municipality: Benzonia Twp

Office/Contract Info

Auction or For Sale: For Sale List Price/SqFt: 1037.79 Ownership Type: Private Owned

General Property Info

New Construction: No Lot Dimensions: 100 x 200 x 100 x 200 Road Frontage: 100 Garage Y/N: Yes Garage Spaces: 2 Fireplace: Yes Total Fireplaces: 1 Waterfront: Yes Body of Water: Big Platte Lake Income Property: No Basement: No Total Rooms AG: 8 Total Fin SqFt All Levels: 1638 SqFt Above Grade: 1638 Total Beds Above Grade: 4 Statewide Lakes & Rivers: Big Platte Lake Main Level Primary: Yes Stories: 1 School District: Benzie Lot Measurement: Acres Lot Acres: 0.46 Lot Square Footage: 20038 Year Built: 1919 Total Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Total Baths: 2

Tax Info

Taxable Value: 213133 SEV: 314900 For Tax Year: 2024 Seller's Annual Property Tax: 999 Tax Year: 2024 Homestead %: 0 Spec Assessment & Type: None Known Zoning: RES Tax ID #: 10-025-007-00

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. Legal: PAR OF LAND IN GOVT LOT 2 BET LOT 25 & LOT 27 PLAT OF BIRCH POINT SHORES ALSO DESC AS COMM AT MEA POST SE COR GL LOT 2 TH N 9 DEG 45' E 161.2 FT TH N 20 DEG W 100 FT TO POB TH N 33 DEG 45' W 25FT TH S 56 DEG 15' W 202 FT TH S 33 DEG 45' E 100 FT TN N 56 DE 15' E 185 FT TH N 20 DEG W TO POB SEC 34 T27N R15W .50 A M/L P.A.

Status Change Info

Sold Price/SqFt: 1025.64 Under Contract Date: 2025-08-17 Sold Date: 2025-09-08 Sold Price: $1,680,000

Waterfront Options

Water Access Y/N: Yes Water Frontage: 100

Water Type

Lake: 1

Water Fea. Amenities

All Sports: 1 Private Frontage: 1

Lot Description

Level: 1 Rolling Hills: 1

Street Type

Paved: 1 Public: 1

Utilities Attached

High Speed Internet: 1

Sewer

Septic Tank: 1

Water

Well: 1

Terms Available

Cash: 1 Conventional: 1

Laundry Features

Laundry Closet: 1

Exterior Material

Wood Siding: 1

Roofing

Asphalt: 1

Parking Features

Attached: 1

Heat Source

Natural Gas: 1

Sale Conditions

None: 1

Heat Type

Forced Air: 1

Air Conditioning

Central Air: 1

Access Feat

Accessibility Features: No

Upper Rooms

Total Baths Above Grade: 2

Main Rooms

Main Bedrooms: 4 Main Full Baths: 2 Main Level SQFT: 1638

Lower Rooms

Lower Finished SQFT: 0 Total Lower SQFT: 0

Driveway

Paved: 1

Substructure

Crawl Space: 1

Windows

Insulated Windows: 1

Fireplace

Living Room: 1 Wood Burning: 1

Appliances

Dishwasher: 1 Microwave: 1

Water Heater

Natural Gas: 1

Patio and Porch Features

Patio: 1 Porch(es): 1 Covered: 1 Deck: 1 Enclosed: 1 Screened: 1 Terrace: 1

Flooring

Wood: 1

Landscape

Decor Fence: 1 Ground Cover: 1

Architectural Style

Ranch: 1

Possession

Close Plus 30 Days: 1

Location Property Info

County: Benzie Street #: 4031 Street Name: Birch Suffix: Drive State: MI Zip Code: 49640 Zip (4): 9418 Area: Outside MichRIC Area - Z

OfficeContract Info

Status: Sold List Price: $1,699,900 Current Price: $1,680,000 Listing Date: 2025-06-02

Remarks Misc

Directions: Platte Rd to Birch Pt. Birch Pt. to Birch Drive

Property Features

Water Type: Lake Laundry Features: Laundry Closet Exterior Material: Wood Siding Roofing: Asphalt Windows: Insulated Windows Substructure: Crawl Space Lot Description: Level; Rolling Hills Sewer: Septic Tank Water: Well Utilities Attached: High Speed Internet Fireplace: Living Room; Wood Burning Appliances: Dishwasher; Microwave Heat Source: Natural Gas Heat Type: Forced Air Air Conditioning: Central Air Water Heater: Natural Gas Flooring: Wood Patio and Porch Features: Covered; Deck; Enclosed; Patio; Porch(es); Screened; Terrace Landscape: Decor Fence; Ground Cover Parking Features: Attached Architectural Style: Ranch Driveway: Paved Street Type: Paved; Public Terms Available: Cash; Conventional Possession: Close Plus 30 Days Sale Conditions: None
Listing Office: EXP Realty LLC
Listing Agent: Thomas A Rumble
IDX
Last Updated: September - 10 - 2025
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