Sheila Hoeft - Realtor

05/27/2026

Ann Arbor Realtor helping clients buy and sell their homes. Whether you are a first time home buyer looking to buy your first home or an empty nester looking to downsize I am here to help.

05/20/2026

Some homes are beautiful.
Some homes tell a story.

628 3rd Street does both. ✨

Tucked into Ann Arbor’s beloved Old West Side, this home is filled with the kind of charm you simply cannot recreate — whimsical details, handcrafted touches, original character, and decades of love woven into every corner.

From the frog door knocker welcoming you to the FROG (Finished Rooms Over Garage)… to the tiny hidden door that became a favorite play spot for grandchildren… to the vintage touches collected over generations — this house feels less like a property and more like a living scrapbook.

And then there’s the setting:
• Backing to Wurster Park 🌿
• Walkable to downtown Ann Arbor + The Big House 🏈
• A beautifully landscaped yard made for gatherings
• A separate ADU above the garage
• Warm natural light everywhere you turn ☀️

This is the kind of home that makes people stop mid-tour and say:
“Wow… they just don’t make them like this anymore.”

628 3rd Street, Ann Arbor
Old West Side magic

HouseWithAStory AnnArborHomes MichiganRealEstate RealtorLife StorytellingHomes WalkableLiving OldHouseCharm

05/15/2026

This proposed development on Varsity Drive, north of Ellsworth, is one of the first housing rezonings under Ann Arbor’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The proposal would change a 1.25-acre parcel from Limited Industrial and allow for two four-story buildings with a total of 50 one-bedroom apartments. The Planning Commission has approved the rezoning, but site plans still need to go through the detailed review process.

The Ann Arbor Planning Commission has approved a rezoning for a new housing complex on Varsity Drive north of Ellsworth. It would be one of the first rezoning for housing under the city’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

05/15/2026

I love stories like this because they remind me that Ann Arbor’s history is not just in old buildings, street names, or “remember when” conversations over coffee — sometimes it shows up in miniature form, with tiny storefronts, handmade details, and one man’s incredible patience.

Don Butcher spent 16 years building a 720-square-foot model railroad replica of 1950s Ann Arbor. Sixteen years. That is not a hobby — that is devotion with a train whistle.

The model was donated to the Kiwanis Thrift Sale, and now there is hope that it can find a permanent home downtown where the public can enjoy it. I cannot think of a more Ann Arbor thing: history, craftsmanship, community service, trains, and just enough nostalgia to make you want to cancel your afternoon and go stare at tiny buildings.

I hope this small-town wonder finds the perfect home. Pieces of local history like this deserve to be seen, shared, and protected.

Article from the Ann Arbor Observer:

The Kiwanis Thrift Sale received a handmade replica of the 1950s-era Ann Arbor railroad. At 720 square feet, the model could fill a three-car garage.

05/14/2026

There are certain Ann Arbor memories that just stay with you.

For me, the old McDonald’s on Maynard is one of them.

We used to walk there at lunchtime — back when downtown felt a little smaller, lunch felt like an adventure, and somehow a trip to McDonald’s with friends could feel like the absolute highlight of the day.

It’s funny how a building, a booth, a sidewalk, or even a paper bag of fries can hold so much nostalgia. That old McDonald’s closed in 1995, but for so many of us, it still lives in that little corner of memory where Ann Arbor childhood, teenage independence, and simpler days all seem to overlap.

I love these pieces of Ann Arbor history because they remind us that a city isn’t just buildings and businesses. It’s the places we walked to, the people we walked with, and the tiny ordinary moments that somehow become the ones we remember forever.

Ann Arbor, you sentimental little heartbreaker. ❤️

The McDonald's on Maynard Street was two stories tall and had a large stained glass window, its former owners recalled.

05/05/2026

Tile is having a moment, and honestly… I have been emotionally prepared for this. 😂

I LOVE tile. Always have. Especially the colorful, quirky, personality-packed tile from 1950s and 1960s homes. I actually have a whole album dedicated to fun vintage bathrooms — with a special place in my heart for pink bathrooms. Yes, the pink tile. Yes, the matching sink. Yes, the tub. Yes, the whole glorious Barbie-dreamhouse-meets-mid-century-time-capsule situation.

This article talks about how tile is becoming more artistic again — colorful grout, mosaics, moody colors, custom patterns, texture, personality. Basically, tile is no longer just a “safe neutral backsplash.” It is stepping into its main character era.

And as someone who regularly walks through homes where original tile has survived decades of design trends, I am here for it.

A well-done tile moment can make a home feel custom, memorable, and full of personality. And sometimes, the thing people are tempted to rip out is exactly the thing that makes the house special.

So please consider this my formal love letter to vintage tile, pink bathrooms, funky mosaics, and every 1960s bathroom that said, “Why be beige when you can be fabulous?”

Bring back the tile drama. I support it. Fully. 🩷

Key takeawaysHome design shifts toward more color and personalization are influencing how designers and homeowners use tile.Fireclay Tile noted moody

05/04/2026

May the 4th be with you ✨