HOUSING

 

The total number of housing units in Forest Home Township increased from 1053 in 1980 to 1245 in 1990, for a 18.2% increase. Of the 1245 dwelling units, 574 are occupied on a year around basis, while 471 are used for seasonal or occasional recreational use. The remaining 200 are vacant, abandoned or for sale. The relationship of seasonal to year round occupied housing is virtually identical between the township and the county.

 

DWELLING UNITS

 

1980*     1990*     Residential     Total

Permits     Dwelling

Issued**     Units

1990-1994     1994

 

Antrim County      8430      13145      1317         14462

Forest Home Twp.   1010      1242      82          1324

Kearney Twp.        583       1001         65          1066 Bellaire***                        16

 

*        Includes figures for the portion of the Village of Bellaire contained within the Townships.

**        Antrim County Building Department

 ***     These figures were not broken out by the portion within Forest Home or Kearney Township.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Housinq for the respective years listed.

 

Between 1990 and 1994, an average of 16 new homes were constructed per year. We believe that a rate of 16 to 20 new homes being constructed is a reasonable expectation since the buildable lake frontage in Forest Home Township is virtually consumed and since view property is available throughout northern Michigan.

 

DWELLING UNIT FORECASTS

 

Year     Dwelling   Actual     Percentage

Units     Increase   Increase

 

          1970          700

1980 1053 353 33.5% 1990 1245 192 15.4% 2000 1430 185 12.9% 2010 1600 170 10.6% 2020 1762 162 9.2%

Source:       Antrim County Building Department Community Planning Assistance, 1996

 

 

The age of housing in Forest Home Township tends to be on the older side with a greater percent being over 50 years in age than was less than ten years old according to the 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing.