Union Pier, Michigan 2025 Real Estate Market Analysis

Union Pier, Michigan 2025 Real Estate Market Analysis
Written by Carlos Pagan & Scott Popp – Team Popp | Live Lake Michigan

1. Big picture: 2025 in Union Pier

Union Pier is acting like what it is: a small, luxury, lifestyle market tied to Lake Michigan, vineyards, and trails – not to metro Detroit or South Bend trends.

Key numbers for 2025:

The average home value in Union Pier is around the mid–$700s, up roughly 8% year-over-year, signaling that buyers are still willing to pay a premium for this micro-market.
In ZIP 49129 (Union Pier), there are about 40+ active listings, ranging from entry cottages in the high $70Ks to estate-level homes near $2.7M, with a median listing price around $1.1M.
By comparison, Berrien County as a whole sits around a $400K median listing price, up ~18% year-over-year, which means Union Pier is firmly in the top tier of the county’s price spectrum.

Translation: Union Pier isn’t a “nice little lake town.” It’s a premium Lake Michigan and wine-country corridor with pricing and appreciation to match.

2. Market temperature: still competitive, but more strategic

Across Southwest Michigan, 2025 looks like a high-demand, moderately supplied market:

Regional data shows sales volumes slightly above 2024 and inventory improving to about a 6.2-month supply, which is closer to a balanced market but still favors well-priced, move-in-ready homes.

For Union Pier specifically:

Well-presented lake-adjacent and walk-to-beach homes are getting strong attention, especially from Chicago buyers and second-home shoppers.
At the high end, Union Pier has repeatedly claimed some of Southwest Michigan’s most expensive closed sales, including a $7M lakefront sale at 16096 Lake Avenue in recent years.

What this means for sellers

You are in a destination market, not a commodity market.
Pricing must reflect micro-location (walkability, beach access, trail access, proximity to vineyards) and condition more than just bed/bath count.
Room still exists for appreciation, but buyers are more analytical in 2025: homes that are even slightly mispriced or poorly presented will sit.

What this means for buyers

Waiting for a “crash” in Union Pier is not a strategy – this is a scarce, lifestyle-driven submarket.
You win by being prepared: pre-approval locked, clear budget, and realistic expectations about what $800K, $1.2M, or $2M buys here.

3. Why Union Pier holds its value: vineyards + walking trails + Lake Michigan

This is where Union Pier quietly crushes other second-home markets. It’s not just about the beach.

Wine country at your doorstep

Union Pier sits in the heart of Southwest Michigan’s wine trail, with tasting rooms and vineyards within minutes:

St. Julian Tasting Room – Union Pier, a satellite of Michigan’s oldest and largest winery, offers year-round tastings right in town.
Round Barn’s Union Pier tasting room and nearby estate properties connect residents to a full-on winery and spirits experience.
Within a short drive, Tabor Hill, Dablon, and Hickory Creek add to the wine-country feel, with vineyard views that rival better-known coastal regions.

For real estate, this matters. Buyers aren’t just purchasing a house; they’re buying weekends of tastings, events, and vineyard sunsets. That emotional value is baked into Union Pier pricing.

Trails, nature, and everyday lifestyle

Union Pier ties directly into Harbor Country’s growing trail and greenway network:

The Harbor Country Hike & Bike Trail project is designed to link New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Sawyer, Grand Beach, Harbert, Union Pier, and beyond with safe, scenic paths.
Nearby, residents can access Warren Dunes State Park, Warren Woods State Park, Galien River County Park, and multiple local hiking loops, giving Union Pier owners a mix of dunes, river, and forest trails within a short drive.

From a buyer’s perspective, that means:

Morning trail run, afternoon tasting room, sunset on the beach is a normal day, not a fantasy itinerary.
Properties adjacent to or within easy reach of these amenities command a premium and tend to be more resilient during market slowdowns.

This is exactly what we mean when we say: Live Lake Michigan – it’s not just shoreline, it’s a full lifestyle ecosystem.

4. Segment-by-segment: how Union Pier is performing

1. Lakefront & near-lake luxury

Think $1.75M–$4M+ for true lakefront or ultra-prime walk-to-beach properties, depending on frontage, privacy, and condition.
These homes have the strongest long-term appreciation and are least vulnerable to macro slowdowns; buyers here are often asset-rich and long-term minded.

2. In-town cottages & walkable second homes

Inside Union Pier proper, updated cottages and modern builds in the $700K–$1.3M range remain highly sought-after by Chicago weekenders and remote professionals.
Homes with short walk to beach, cafés, tasting rooms, and trails outperform purely residential, car-dependent locations.

3. Off-lake but lifestyle-rich

Homes a few minutes inland – especially those with wooded lots, trail access, or proximity to wineries – are where many buyers look to stretch their budget.
This segment appeals to investor-owners who want flexible use: personal enjoyment plus potential for short-term or seasonal rental (subject to local regulations).

5. Strategy recommendations from Team Popp

For Union Pier sellers in 2025

From Carlos & Scott:

Lead with lifestyle in your marketing.
We’re not just selling square footage; we’re selling vineyard afternoons, trail mornings, and Lake Michigan sunsets. Listing language, photography, and video should reflect that.
Dial in pricing to the micro-market.
We benchmark you against recent Union Pier and Harbor Country sales, not broad Berrien County averages, which are far lower and misleading. (Redfin)
Optimize condition and presentation.
In this price band, buyers expect turnkey or very close to it. Strategic pre-listing improvements and elevated staging can be the difference between:
- idle showings and low offers, vs.
- a clean, top-of-market contract.
Leverage Chicago and regional buyer pipelines.
Our marketing, content, and digital targeting for Team Popp & Live Lake Michigan are built to speak directly to the second-home and lifestyle buyer, not just local move-up shoppers.

For Union Pier buyers in 2025

Define lifestyle first, property second.
Are you trail-first? Vineyard-centric? Beach-obsessed? We reverse-engineer search criteria from the lifestyle you want.
Get financially ready before the “perfect” home appears.
Pre-approval, proof of funds, and clarity on your walk-away number are non-negotiables in a market where good listings move.
Be flexible on finishes, firm on location.
You can change flooring and cabinets. You cannot change distance to the lake, vineyard, or trail.

6. How Team Popp uses this data

As Carlos and Scott, we look at Union Pier in 2025 through two lenses:

Macro lens: Southwest Michigan remains a high-demand, lifestyle-driven region with improving inventory but strong pricing power.
Micro lens: Union Pier sits at the intersection of Lake Michigan, wine country, and outdoor recreation, which keeps it in the top tier of values and desirability in Berrien County.

That’s why our promise is simple:

Team Popp – Live Lake Michigan
We don’t just track the Union Pier market – we live and breathe it, so you can buy and sell with confidence.