Mother–Son Team · Real Estate One
Your guide to life & real estate in
Northern Michigan
A mother & son REALTOR® team with Real Estate One, helping people buy and sell homes, cottages, land, and lakefront property across Northern Michigan. What started as Janel's one-woman operation 21+ years ago has grown into a top-producing partnership grounded in trust, creativity, and a deep love for this community, paired with in-house photography that makes every listing shine across Zillow, Realtor.com, and social. Whether you're searching for a lakeside cottage, a year-round home, an investment property, or the right buyer for a property you love, we'll walk the whole market alongside you with honesty, patience, and a local's eye.
Twenty years of closings
Every home we've sold, on one map.
808 closings and $250M+ in sales across Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim and Kalkaska counties since 2005. Watch them light up, one by one.
See our sales map →About the Browns
Two generations.
One trusted guide to northern Michigan.
We bring the best of both worlds: Janel's $250M+ in career sales and trusted local network, paired with Taylor's modern marketing edge and the kind of photography that actually makes buyers stop scrolling.
Taylor also works with investors buying short-term rentals, and he keeps a township-by-township guide to where short-term rentals are allowed up here.
We know real estate isn't just a transaction. It's a move, a milestone, a moment. And we're here to help you navigate it with confidence, clarity, and care.
Meet the team →Local Area Guides
Know the neighborhoods
before you know the house.
Deep dives into the corners of northern Michigan we know best: schools, shorelines, and the quiet streets locals actually love.
Up North, Illustrated
The whole region,
hand-drawn.
This is our corner of Michigan, drawn the way it feels. Hover (or tap) the bays, the dunes and the lighthouses. There are 14 things hiding on this map. Find them all, then send it to someone who belongs Up North.
How it works
Hover around. Things move.
Boats, lighthouses, a very patient bear and a lot of cherries. There are 14 things hiding on this map.
"Loved everything about working with Taylor and Janel! Such an incredible experience. I felt heard and cared for. They understood our desires when looking for a house and did not try to push us into anything we were not comfortable with."— Joelle
"Janel always looks out for us as her clients. She communicates exceptionally well and has a great eye for detail. The photographs and drone images of our house by her son, Taylor, were a key factor in selling our house."— Roger
Market Field Notes
Writing about the market
we live in.
Ice-out just hit the inland lakes — why the next three weeks decide Northern Michigan’s waterfront season
Mud season is the best time to tour a house in northern Michigan — nobody tells you this
Michigan wants to put three homes on every residential lot — what that actually means up here
Janel Brown
- 21+ years of Northern Michigan real estate experience and $250M+ in career sales
- A reputation for truly listening to clients, offering honest advice, and negotiating with skill and care
- Deep market knowledge and an extensive local network that give every client a clear advantage
- Creative, proven marketing strategies that get properties in front of the right buyers
Janel brings warmth, integrity, and a personal touch to each relationship, making sure every client feels supported from the first meeting to long after the keys are handed over.
Taylor Brown
- Professional photographer turned Realtor: in-house listing photography and video that outperforms what buyers see on the rest of the market
- Tech-forward marketing that puts your listing in front of the right audience on the right channels
- A sharp eye for detail, from staging and storytelling to contract terms and inspection items
- Clear, responsive communication: you always know where the deal stands
Taylor brings fresh energy, local insight, and a down-to-earth approach that makes the process smooth and rewarding for both buyers and sellers.
Let's work together.
Whether you're listing next spring or browsing for your first cottage on the bay, we'd love to hear what you're thinking.
Get in touch
Let's start a conversation.
Tell us a little about what you're thinking, whether you're a year away from listing or just starting to wonder what your place is worth, we'd love to hear from you. We read every message personally and reply within 24 hours, usually sooner.
Or reach us directly: Taylor@taylorbrownrealtor.com · Call Taylor
Backed by Real Estate One
The largest brokerage in Michigan, behind every move you make.
We're proud to hang our license with Real Estate One, the largest real estate company in Michigan and the 8th largest in the country. Family-owned since 1929, it brings the reach, resources, and one-stop access to mortgage, title, and insurance that move deals forward, while you still get the personal, hands-on attention of a mother & son team who know this corner of northern Michigan by heart.