East Jordan Michigan
Mortgage Lender.
East Jordan is Charlevoix County without the resort price tag. Fifteen miles south of Charlevoix city on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix, East Jordan has its own distinct character -- anchored by East Jordan Iron Works, backed by the Jordan River Valley, and home to people who live here year-round because they want to, not because they can afford a seasonal cottage. The prices reflect that. The community reflects that. So does our approach to financing here.
Kirby and Angie serve East Jordan and Charlevoix County buyers with conventional, FHA, VA, USDA (rural surrounding areas), and manufactured home loans. The average home value in East Jordan is approximately $327,000, with median sold prices around $321,000. East Jordan is a seller's market. South Arm Lake Charlevoix access is available at prices well below the Charlevoix city market. East Jordan Iron Works provides stable industrial employment. The Jordan River -- Michigan's first designated Natural Scenic River -- runs through the surrounding valley.
East Jordan -- Charlevoix County's working-family market.
Every county has a resort side and a working side. In Charlevoix County, Charlevoix city is the resort side -- all three waters, the Mushroom Houses, the summer boat traffic. East Jordan is the working side. It is a genuine manufacturing and service economy town on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix with a stable industrial anchor in East Jordan Iron Works -- one of the largest iron foundry and metal casting operations in North America. The people who work at East Jordan Iron Works, who run the businesses that serve this community, who teach in the schools and drive the fire trucks -- this is where they live. And the prices reflect that. Average home value around $327,000. A seller's market because demand for real housing in a real community exceeds the supply. But not a resort market in the way Charlevoix city or Petoskey operate.
The Jordan River flows through the surrounding valley -- Michigan's first officially designated Natural Scenic River. Hiking in the Jordan River Valley State Wildlife Area, cold-water trout fishing, snowmobiling, hunting. Boyne City is 10 minutes to the east. Charlevoix city is 15 minutes north on M-66. East Jordan gives buyers access to the entire Northern Michigan recreational economy without paying Northern Michigan resort pricing for a primary residence.
East Jordan Iron Works and W-2 Income Qualification
East Jordan Iron Works is a major employer in a county not known for industrial employment. For buyers who work at EJIW or in the supporting trades and services, standard W-2 income qualification is exactly what they have. These are not seasonal workers, not self-employed buyers with complicated documentation, not commission-variable income. They are salaried or hourly employees with straightforward income documentation. Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans all serve this profile well. We process these files efficiently -- this is the standard first-time and move-up buyer profile we work with every day.
South Arm Lake Charlevoix Access
East Jordan sits on the southern tip of Lake Charlevoix's South Arm. Waterfront properties here provide access to one of the finest inland lakes in Michigan -- 17 miles long, clean, connected to Lake Michigan through the Charlevoix channel -- at prices substantially below the north end of the lake near Charlevoix city. Many South Arm waterfront properties fall within conventional conforming loan limits. Second home financing applies for seasonal buyers. We match the program to the property and how you intend to use it.
- Conventional loans for primary residence buyers with solid credit
- FHA with 3.5% down and flexible credit requirements
- VA zero-down for eligible veterans and service members
- USDA for rural surrounding Charlevoix County addresses (verify individually)
- Second home financing for South Arm waterfront seasonal buyers
- Construction loans for land buyers in the Jordan River Valley area
- MSHDA down payment assistance where zip code qualifies
Programs that work for East Jordan buyers.
East Jordan's working-family market, industrial employment base, and South Arm Lake Charlevoix access create a distinct financing profile from the rest of Charlevoix County.
Conventional Loans
The primary tool for East Jordan primary residence buyers. Down payments as low as 3% for qualified buyers, PMI that cancels at 20% equity, and full program flexibility for the range of property types in this market.
Learn More →FHA Loans
3.5% down with credit scores as low as 580. A strong entry point for first-time buyers and those with credit histories that do not qualify for best conventional pricing. East Jordan's price point makes FHA highly workable here.
Learn More →VA Loans
Zero down, no mortgage insurance for eligible veterans. Northern Michigan has a meaningful veteran population and VA is the strongest program available at any price point for those who qualify.
Learn More →USDA (Surrounding Rural Areas)
Some rural Charlevoix County addresses surrounding East Jordan may qualify for USDA zero-down. Eligibility is address-specific. We verify every property -- do not assume eligibility without checking the specific address.
Check Eligibility →Second Home Loans
South Arm Lake Charlevoix waterfront draws seasonal buyers at prices well below the north arm. Second home financing applies for non-primary seasonal purchases. Specific occupancy rules and rate pricing apply.
Learn More →Construction Loans
Land parcels in the Jordan River Valley area attract buyers who want to build in the hills and forest surrounding East Jordan. One-time close construction-to-permanent financing covers the build and converts automatically.
Learn More →East Jordan mortgage questions answered.
Buying in East Jordan or the Jordan Valley?
Charlevoix County living, South Arm lake access, and a price point that works for working families. Seller's market conditions mean your pre-approval needs to be ready before you make an offer.
Kirby and Angie Mortgage Loan Team | Union Home Mortgage | NMLS #2229229 | Angie Anderson NMLS #1999286 | Kirby Slocum NMLS #680817 | Licensed in Michigan | Equal Housing Lender. All loans subject to credit approval and underwriting review. USDA eligibility subject to address verification and income limits. Market data sourced from Zillow and Rocket Homes 2025 data. Information for educational purposes only and does not constitute a loan commitment.
