Real Estate Agent in Union Lake, Commerce Township

I'm Robert Harrell, a Top Rated Agent (Zillow) and 5-Star Agent (Real Estate One) with 30 years of experience serving Union Lake and the broader Commerce Township market. As a dedicated real estate agent in Union Lake, I specialize in this community's distinct mix of lakefront properties, lake-access homes, and established single-family neighborhoods surrounding the 488-acre Union Lake itself — one of Oakland County's most desirable all-sports lakes.

Why work with a real estate agent in Union Lake?

Working with a Union Lake specialist — not a generalist covering all of Metro Detroit — gives you a real edge in a market where local nuance drives pricing and negotiation outcomes.

First, Union Lake's lakefront and lake-access pricing is highly stratified. Homes with private frontage on Union Lake can trade at a significant premium over comparable non-lake homes just a few blocks inland. A generalist agent unfamiliar with these distinctions may underprice a listing with water rights or overpay on a purchase where access is limited to a boat club slip rather than a private dock. Knowing the difference between deeded lake access, shared frontage, and full waterfront — and how each affects value — is something I've built into my practice over decades of working this area.

Second, Union Lake sits within Commerce Township's unique municipal and HOA landscape. Many subdivisions here carry HOA restrictions specific to lake use, dock permits, and seasonal structures. Buyers who don't understand these covenants going in can face costly surprises after closing. As your real estate agent in Union Lake, I help you read and interpret these documents before you're under contract — not after.

About Union Lake

Union Lake is one of the most recognizable communities within Commerce Township, anchored by its namesake all-sports lake that draws both year-round residents and families seeking weekend-home lifestyles. The neighborhood blends older, character-rich cottages that have been expanded and renovated over generations with newer custom construction on premium lots — a housing mix that makes this one of Commerce Township's most varied and interesting markets to navigate.

Residents here live along streets like Cooley Lake Road, Commerce Road, and the lakeside drives that ring Union Lake itself. The community feeds into the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, which matters to many of the buyers I work with. Lifestyle here centers on the water — boating, fishing, kayaking, and summer dock life define the Union Lake experience in a way that's hard to replicate in inland parts of Commerce Township.

Price-wise, Union Lake homes span a meaningful range. Inland single-family homes without lake access track closer to the broader Commerce Township mainstream — think high-$300s to mid-$600s for well-maintained properties. Move to the shoreline or pick up a lot with deeded lake access, and you're looking at figures that climb well above Commerce Township's overall median of approximately $634K (as of March 2026). Renovated lakefront homes and custom builds on the water can trade significantly higher, and understanding where each property falls on that spectrum is something I work through carefully with every client.

"Union Lake is the kind of place where the right property at the right price attracts real competition fast — you have to know the micro-market to move with confidence."

Real estate in Union Lake — what to expect

Buying or selling in Union Lake follows a process, but the details here differ from a generic Commerce Township transaction. Here are six things to plan for:

1. Lakefront and lake-access due diligence comes first. Before anything else, I help buyers confirm the exact nature of water access — deeded frontage, shared dock, or boat club membership — because this determines both value and long-term enjoyment. Sellers need this documented clearly from day one to avoid delays at closing.

2. HOA and lake association rules require careful review. Many Union Lake subdivisions have active lake associations that govern dock size, watercraft types, and seasonal structures. I walk buyers through these governing documents during the inspection period so nothing surprises them after they move in.

3. Pricing strategy accounts for the water premium. I analyze both waterfront and non-waterfront comparable sales separately when pricing a Union Lake home. Blending the two comp pools leads to mispricing — either leaving money on the table for sellers or overpaying as a buyer.

4. Inspections here often include dock, seawall, and well/septic systems. Older lakefront cottages may have aged seawalls, private well systems, or septic infrastructure that a standard home inspector won't assess in depth. I routinely recommend specialty inspectors for these components so buyers know exactly what they're purchasing.

5. Permit history on additions and docks matters. Many lakefront homes in Union Lake have seen additions, enclosed porches, or docks added over the years — not all with proper permits. I flag these issues early and help negotiate resolutions with sellers before they derail a closing.

6. Timing your listing to the season affects your results. Union Lake lakefront homes list and sell fastest in spring and early summer, when buyers are actively planning for the boating season. I factor this seasonal demand curve into every listing strategy I build for this neighborhood.

Union Lake vs. Commerce Township — key differences

Union Lake stands apart from the broader Commerce Township market in three important ways.

• Water-driven demand. Commerce Township has several lakes, but Union Lake's size, all-sports designation, and high name recognition create a more concentrated buyer pool specifically targeting this neighborhood. That sustained demand means well-priced Union Lake properties — especially waterfront — move faster than many inland Commerce Township homes.
• Housing stock diversity. While Commerce Township overall trends toward newer subdivisions and planned communities, Union Lake carries a larger inventory of original cottages, mid-century ranches, and expanded bungalows alongside newer custom builds. This gives buyers more entry points but also requires more careful condition-based analysis.
• Price ceiling is higher. Because premium lakefront lots command top dollar, Union Lake's upper price range stretches well above Commerce Township's overall median. Buyers and sellers working in this neighborhood need an agent who understands how to move confidently at both ends of the price spectrum.

What clients say

These are real reviews from clients I've worked with in and around the Union Lake area and Commerce Township community:

"Rob was very knowledgeable about the market and he helped me to price my home at an appropriate, fair price that allowed my home to sell promptly." — D.P., Commerce Township, MI (listing client, Real Estate One / Listen360)

This client trusted me to develop a pricing strategy grounded in real local data — not wishful thinking — and the result was a clean, prompt sale.

"Rob put us at ease and explained the process from the start until the sold sign went up. Kept us informed about everything." — Christopher Balas, Commerce Township, MI (listing client, Real Estate One / Listen360)

Selling a home, especially in a nuanced market like Union Lake, can feel overwhelming — my job is to make sure that never happens.

"I trust Rob to advise and guide me through the entire buying process." — Christina Smith, White Lake, MI (buying client, Real Estate One / Listen360)

Trust is earned through preparation, honest communication, and neighborhood knowledge — and it's the foundation of every client relationship I build here.

Frequently asked questions

What does a real estate agent in Union Lake actually do differently than a general agent? 

A real estate agent in Union Lake brings hyper-local knowledge that a generalist simply can't replicate — specifically around water access classification, lake association rules, and the price stratification between waterfront and inland homes. When I list a lakefront home, I don't just run a standard CMA — I segment the comps by frontage type and lot depth to build an accurate picture. On the buyer side, I flag dock permit histories and seawall conditions before you're under contract, not after. That level of preparation protects your investment and prevents costly surprises at closing.

How is pricing determined for Union Lake homes with lake access? 

Lake access status is the single biggest pricing variable in Union Lake, and it's not binary — there's a spectrum from full private frontage to shared deeded access to boat club membership, and each level commands a different premium. I analyze comparable sales within each access category separately rather than blending them, which gives sellers an accurate target price and gives buyers a defensible offer anchor. Overpricing a lake-access home by miscategorizing the access type is one of the most common listing mistakes I see in this market. Getting this right from day one is what drives competitive results.

How long do homes typically stay on the market in Union Lake? 

Well-priced Union Lake homes — particularly waterfront properties listed in spring — attract buyer attention quickly, often within the first week or two on market. Inland homes without lake access in Union Lake track closer to broader Commerce Township patterns and may take a bit longer depending on condition and price point. The key variable is always accurate pricing relative to the specific access level and condition of the home. Homes that are priced based on wishful thinking rather than real comp data tend to sit, accumulate days on market, and ultimately sell for less than properly priced homes.

What should buyers know about inspections for Union Lake lakefront properties? 

A standard home inspection is not enough for most Union Lake lakefront properties — you need specialist assessments for the dock structure, seawall integrity, and any private well or septic systems on the lot. These are not inexpensive components to repair or replace, and their condition directly affects both the home's value and your ability to enjoy it from day one. I routinely recommend buyers schedule dock and seawall inspections alongside the standard home inspection so all findings are in hand before the inspection contingency deadline. Walking in with complete information is the only way to negotiate from a position of strength.

Are there HOA fees or lake association dues in Union Lake? 

Many Union Lake subdivisions and lakefront communities carry annual lake association dues or HOA fees that govern dock permits, watercraft rules, and shared amenity maintenance. These fees vary by community and can range from modest annual assessments to more substantial dues depending on the level of shared infrastructure involved. As your real estate agent in Union Lake, I make sure you have a complete picture of all association obligations before you make an offer — not buried in a disclosure document two days before closing. Understanding what you're committing to financially beyond the mortgage payment is a basic part of responsible home buying.

What is the best time of year to sell a Union Lake waterfront home? 

Spring — specifically March through June — is the prime selling window for Union Lake waterfront homes, because buyers are actively planning for the boating season and want to be in place before summer. Listing a lakefront home in January works against you simply because the lake's appeal is harder to visualize when it's frozen. I help sellers who want to list in winter use strong photography from prior summer seasons to tell the full story of what life on Union Lake looks like. That said, well-priced lakefront homes in Union Lake attract serious buyers in any season because demand for quality water-access properties remains consistent throughout the year.

How do I find out if a Union Lake home has permitted docks and additions? 

Permit history on docks, seawalls, room additions, and enclosed porches is public record through Commerce Township's building department, and I pull this information as a standard part of my buyer due diligence process. Unpermitted work doesn't automatically kill a deal, but it does need to be addressed — either through a seller obtaining retroactive permits, a price adjustment, or a written disclosure and buyer acknowledgment. The worst outcome is buying a home with unpermitted structures and discovering the issue when you try to sell it years later. I treat permit history as a non-negotiable research item on every Union Lake transaction I handle.

Why should I choose Robert Harrell as my real estate agent in Union Lake specifically? 

I've worked the Commerce Township and Union Lake market for 30 years, and that experience translates directly to better outcomes for my clients — whether they're selling a lakefront cottage or buying their first home in the community. My Zillow Top Rated Agent designation and Real Estate One 5-Star status reflect the consistent results and client satisfaction I've built over decades of transactions in this area. I know the streets, the lake associations, the typical inspection issues, and the pricing dynamics of this neighborhood at a level that only comes from sustained, long-term presence here. When you hire me as your real estate agent in Union Lake, you're getting someone who has navigated every type of market condition this community has seen — and who is ready to put that experience to work for you.

Ready to work with me in Union Lake?

If you're buying or selling in Union Lake, I'm ready to put 30 years of Commerce Township and lakefront market experience to work for you. Whether you're targeting a specific street near the water or need a sharp pricing strategy for your current home, I bring the local knowledge to move with confidence. Let's talk about your goals.

Call me directly: (248) 830-1870 Find me on Google: Robert Harrell — Real Estate One

As your real estate agent in Union Lake, I'm here to make the process clear, accurate, and genuinely local from start to finish.