Branch
Solid value in a growing area
12 homes for sale·Median $260K·Schools 5.7/10
Out here, waterfront living isn't theoretical—it's the actual condition of being. Long Lake sprawls across the landscape with sandy beach access, boat launches, and enough all-sport water to justify keeping a dock in your backyard, while the Pere Marquette River cuts through with low-bank frontage that turns a property into a riverside retreat. The land itself runs generous: five, eight, ten acres aren't unusual, and wooded parcels with creek frontage come with room for barns, pastures, and the kind of privacy that requires actual distance between neighbors. Manistee National Forest sits adjacent, which means the woods don't stop at your property line—they continue into public acreage where you can actually disappear. Restaurants are steps away, not a conceptual promise, and Lake Michigan itself is right there, zero miles away, a fact that quietly redefines what "waterfront" means when the big lake is your neighbor.
Why people love it here
$62K median household income
- $260K median · 24 sales in last 12mo
Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Branch
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,765/mo
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. This is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS Consumer Access
24 homes sold in Branch this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 7/10
School District: Mason County Central Schools
Most of Branch is policed by the Mason County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (456 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (141 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 456 |
| Aggravated assault | 141 |
| Burglary | 73 |
| Rape | 53 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 29 |
| Arson | 10 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Mason County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Mason County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Branch alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Branch home (around $260,000) at today's 6.43% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $40k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,505 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Branch household earns $61,875 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $412,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,505/mo | $40,137 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $1,766/mo | $47,088 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $1,853/mo | $49,407 |
Estimates use a 6.43% 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 and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not an APR or a commitment to lend — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
3 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$11K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$70K
Per listing
Median Income
$62K
Home Value (Census)
$142K
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Unnamed park
1.4 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Frequently asked about Branch
- What do homes cost in Branch?
- The median home value in Branch is about $260,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Branch housing market?
- there are 12 homes for sale in Branch right now, and 24 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Branch?
- Branch is served by Mason County Central Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Mason County Eastern Junior HighHigh School (7/10).
Top contributors in Branch
Detailed statistics are being computed for this location. Demographics, home values, schools, flood risk, and more will appear here automatically.
