Ballards Corners
Strong schools draw families here
Median $341K·Walkability 0.6/10·Schools 7.0/10
You've got a quiet stretch of land where houses sit on real acreage, a lot of them backing up to woods, and you're still only about 10 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids when you need to be. Most homes here are three or four bedrooms on decent-sized lots—the kind of place where you can actually breathe, with newer builds mixed in alongside houses from the '70s and '80s. The area sits in Alpine township, right at the edge of what locals call "The Ridge," the same belt of land responsible for 40 percent of Michigan's apple production, and you're just a quick drive from Sparta's shopping and restaurants whenever you want them.
Why people love it here
Sparta Senior High School
- High — 2.3 mi away
- Sparta
- 3 rated schools in district
$341K median
- 7 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Ballards Corners
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,315/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
7 homes sold in Ballards Corners this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 9/10
School District: Sparta Area Schools
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Cielito Lindo
+1 more
Domino's Pizza
+1 more
Starbucks
+1 more
Bow Tie Tavern
Wahlfield Park
Unnamed playground
Stevenson Lake
Unnamed beach
Unnamed bike_path
Rogue River Launch (A-41-011)
+1 more
Alpine/Lamoreaux (SB)
Rite Aid
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Kidz Clubhouse
AMC Grand Rapids 18
Crime in Ballards Corners is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Ballards Corners home (around $341,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $60k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,268 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,268/mo | $60,482 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,611/mo | $69,634 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,726/mo | $72,694 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
5 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$14K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$225K
Per listing
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$860/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,273 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
Resident-arranged private hauler
Sheriff district car covers 4 townships; Alpine contracts an additional dedicated patrol shift.
Alpine Township Fire Department
Combination dept; full-time chief/inspector + 6 FT + paid-on-call; 3 stations.
Services for Alpine · Source: NREL Utility Rates API
Utility, solar, and service details for Ballards Corners are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Nearest Park
Wahlfield Park
1.8 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
🛒 Grocery(4)
Family Fare Supermarket
Grocery Store
Family Fare
Grocery Store
Cielito Lindo
Grocery Store
+1 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(18)
Domino's Pizza
Restaurant
Burger King
Restaurant
New Dragon Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant
Little Caesars Pizza
Restaurant
Pizzeria Maria
Restaurant
+13 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(8)
+5 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(14)
Englishville School (Closed)
White School
Sparta Senior High School
School
Holy Family School
Koon School
+9 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(4)
Bike Path
Bike Path
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
Wahlfield Park Trail
Bike Path
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
💊 Pharmacies(1)
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
📚 Libraries(1)
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Frequently asked about Ballards Corners
- What do homes cost in Ballards Corners?
- The median home value in Ballards Corners is about $341,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Ballards Corners housing market?
- there are 2 homes for sale in Ballards Corners right now, and 7 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Ballards Corners?
- Ballards Corners is served by Sparta Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Sparta Senior High School (9/10).
- Is Ballards Corners walkable?
- Ballards Corners scores 0.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Ballards Corners
Detailed statistics are being computed for this location. Demographics, home values, schools, flood risk, and more will appear here automatically.