Suburb needs 4 references just to buy there

The phrase “summering in Michigan” likely brings to mind the car-free charm of Mackinac Island or the beaches of Traverse City. But there is another, lesser-known retreat tucked away along the state’s shoreline — one where cottages can be used only six full months of the year and buying one requires four reference letters. That place is the Bay View Association, a roughly 340-acre private community on Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay, just outside the city of Petoskey. Here, Victorian-era cottages dot tree-lined streets, and a summer calendar is packed with activities for adults and children. It is no small feat to buy a home in Bay View, which opens in late April and closes in early November. Home buyers are required to be members before purchasing, which involves references, interviews and until 2019, a letter from a minister. And finding a suitable cottage can be a lengthy process. There are around 440 cottages in Bay View, almost all of which are Victorians built between 1875 and 1900, according to Mary McCarthy, a local real-estate agent. Many stay within families for generations, and when they do become available, they are often sold through word-of-mouth. Emily Soelter an...