Thirteen waterfront homes in Harrison Township will throw open their doors for free this Saturday, Oct. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m., letting house-hunters and the simply curious wander everything from a modest canal fixer-upper to a $2.29 million estate with three stories and an elevator. No registration is required, and visitors can hit the properties in any order they like.
The tour is the brainchild of Francesca Krause, an agent with RE/MAX Advisors, who says the idea grew out of a slower-than-expected summer housing market, according to the Detroit Free Press. “More people need to be brought through the door,” Krause said. The participating properties reflect a range of waterfront lifestyles, from canal and river homes to direct lakefront living, and span different price points.
Krause said she hopes the tour helps visitors understand the practical differences between canal, river and lake living, adding, “there is something for everyone.” The lineup reflects a mix of waterfront types and price points. Several listings come with docks, boat hoists or direct canal access to Lake St. Clair.
A $2.29 Million Marquee Listing With Uncle Kracker Ties
The standout property on the tour sits at 32824 North River Road, a 5,601-square-foot home built in 2004 with four bedrooms, five bathrooms and 120 feet of waterfront in Harrison Township's Sunny Point Shores neighborhood, listed for $2.29 million, according to Realtor.com. Per the Free Press, the home has three stories connected by an elevator and offers quick boating access to Lake St. Clair. The property has also been associated with country musician Uncle Kracker.
For buyers with a smaller budget but similar boating ambitions, 28900 South River Road offers a middle ground. Listed by RE/MAX Advisors at $599,900, the roughly 3,000-square-foot home includes six bedrooms and three boat wells.
The Full List of Stops
The tour also includes 38159 Mast St. Visitors who scan a QR code at each stop earn one entry into a drawing for Detroit Lions tickets, giving tour-goers an extra incentive to hit every house on the map.
The event was discussed on the local podcast The Closing Table, hosted by a loan officer with Mortgage One’s Keystone Branch. That cross-promotion reflects how deeply boating and real estate are intertwined in a township that markets itself as Boat Town, U.S.A.
Why Harrison Township Calls Itself Boat Town, U.S.A.
The nickname isn't just marketing flourish. State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine testified on House Bill 4221 on June 7, 2023; the bill had been accepted by the House Committee on Government Operations and would formally designate Harrison Township as Boat Town, U.S.A., according to Michigan House Republicans. The bill cited the township’s 32 miles of coastline, more than 70 marinas, over 15,000 boat slips and more than 7,000 waterfront homes. Legislative testimony cited in that same record shows recreational boating generates more than $7.8 billion in annual economic impact statewide, supporting over 58,000 jobs across more than 1,500 marine businesses.
A Tour Aimed at Drawing Buyers
The tour comes after a slower-than-expected summer housing market.
Krause, an experienced agent who works out of New Baltimore, built the tour specifically to drive foot traffic after a slower summer. With no entry fee and no sign-up required, Saturday's open-house marathon gives both serious buyers and curious locals a rare, no-strings look inside Boat Town, U.S.A.'s waterfront housing stock.
