Three-Bedroom Country Home on 40 Acres in Rock, Michigan – $165,000
Property Overview
Set in the Rock/McFarland area of Marquette County, this 1926 cottage-style single-family home offers three bedrooms, one full bathroom, 1,314 square feet of finished living area, and 40 acres of wooded rural land. The property combines an established country home with substantial acreage, a detached two-car garage, and a range of recent updates.
The home has received several important improvements, including a furnace installed in 2025, a tankless water heater, updated windows with fascia and gutters, and a water system from Wandels. In 2018, the home was lifted and the basement was finished with a daylight/egress window, creating additional flexible space that can be used as another bedroom or for another purpose.
The main level includes a living room, kitchen, dining room, one bedroom, one full bathroom, and first-floor laundry. Upstairs are two additional bedrooms. Hardwood flooring, forced-air propane heat, ceiling fans, a sump pump, and a full block basement add practical features to the interior.
Interior Features
Exterior, Land & Garage
The property encompasses 40 acres with a 1,320-foot road frontage and approximately 1,320-by-1,320-foot dimensions. The land is described as wooded, rural, and deep, providing substantial outdoor space around the home.
A detached two-car garage with electric service and a garage door opener provides additional covered storage and parking. The property also includes a porch and a rural view. The road surface is paved.
There are no waterfront features on the property. The parcel is identified as 521703000100 and is described as residential with no zoning required.
Utilities & Construction
The home has a block foundation and full basement. Property utilities include connected electricity and propane, with a 100-amp electrical service. Water is supplied by a private well, and wastewater is handled by a mound septic system.
The home was built in 1926 and has a one-and-a-half-story configuration with vinyl siding and cottage-style architecture. The property is not new construction and has no homeowners association.
Buyer Area Research
Area Overview
The property is located in the Rock area of Marquette County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Marquette County covers approximately 1,809 square miles and had an estimated population of 68,064 in 2025, compared with 66,017 in the 2020 Census. The county combines rural communities, forested land, inland waterways, and access to the larger regional center of Marquette.
Countywide Census data for 2020-2024 reports a 69.6% owner-occupied housing rate and a median value of owner-occupied housing units of $216,500. These figures describe Marquette County as a whole and are not property-specific.
Safety & Crime
Address-specific crime statistics were not identified in the available public sources. County-level 2024 FBI UCR data provides broader context: reporting agencies headquartered in Marquette County recorded 27 violent offenses and 120 property offenses in the reporting dataset summarized by Data Commons. These figures cover the county rather than the property or the Rock community and should not be interpreted as a property-specific safety measure.
The FBI-based county data also shows that reported offenses vary by community and reporting agency, so countywide figures are best treated as general regional information rather than a direct measure of conditions at this address.
Schools & Education
Nearby educational resources include Gwinn Area Community Schools, whose district offices and secondary school facilities are located in Gwinn. The district publishes information for the 2026-2027 school year, including its calendar, school activities, and district programs.
Nearby schools are presented here as area resources. School proximity does not by itself establish enrollment assignment for this property, and prospective buyers should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with the applicable school district.
Healthcare & Hospitals
Regional healthcare options include UP Health System facilities in Marquette, Ishpeming, and other Upper Peninsula communities. UP Health System – Marquette is a 222-bed specialty-care hospital with emergency services and a broad range of specialty and subspecialty care. UP Health System also lists a rehabilitation location in Gwinn and primary-care locations throughout the region.
OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group in Escanaba provides another regional hospital option, with inpatient and outpatient services serving Delta County and surrounding communities.
Housing Market History
Historical housing-market context for Marquette County is available through the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s annual All-Transactions House Price Index. The series uses an index where 2000 equals 100, so it measures changes in home prices over time rather than reporting a median sale price in dollars.
| Year | FHFA House Price Index | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 203.65 | +11.2% |
| 2022 | 242.98 | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 269.30 | +10.8% |
| 2024 | 293.45 | +9.0% |
| 2025 | 310.22 | +5.7% |
From 2021 through 2025, the Marquette County index increased by approximately 52.3%. This is historical county-level information and does not predict future property values or indicate the value of this particular home.
Transportation & Access
The surrounding region is served by Michigan’s state highway network, including M-35, which connects communities in the Upper Peninsula and runs through the Gwinn area toward Negaunee and the Marquette region. The property itself has paved road frontage.
MDOT was conducting a 2026 M-35 reconstruction project between County Road 480 and US-41, including intersection improvements at County Road 492. MDOT reported an expected project completion period of mid-October 2026. This is regional transportation information and is not presented as an address-specific road project.
Shopping & Everyday Services
Everyday services are available in the surrounding Gwinn and Rock-area communities. Gwinn has a Snyder’s Drug Store at 130 East M-35, while Dollar General operates locations on M-35 and M-553. The local area also includes smaller general-store and convenience-service options serving rural residents and travelers.
Parks & Recreation
Marquette County offers extensive outdoor recreation, with hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, winter activities, and other uses across its forests, waterways, parks, and trail systems. Regional resources include the North Country National Scenic Trail and numerous county and state recreation areas.
The North Country Trail’s Marquette Area Chapter maintains a section extending from Long Lake west of Craig Lake State Park toward Rock River Road in Alger County. The broader Marquette County trail network provides access to forest, shoreline, and backcountry landscapes.
Utilities & Connectivity
The property has its own private well and mound septic system, with connected electricity and propane service. These property-specific utility details are distinct from broader utility availability in the surrounding area.
Michigan’s Public Service Commission lists telecommunications providers serving the Upper Peninsula, including Aspire/Highline Internet and Peninsula Fiber Network. Rural broadband availability can vary by exact location, so service type and provider availability should be confirmed directly for the property address before purchase.
Development & Planning
Marquette County is updating its Marquette County 2040 Master Plan, with a draft 2026 update scheduled for public review. The county planning program addresses long-term land use, infrastructure, community development, and related planning topics across the county.
No address-specific proposed development project was verified for this property through the available planning sources. Regional transportation improvements, including current and planned MDOT work, remain subject to project schedules and funding.
Property Summary
| Property Type | Single Family Residence |
|---|---|
| Address | 17699 County Road 444, Rock, MI 49855 |
| County | Marquette County |
| State | Michigan |
| ZIP | 49855 |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 1 full bathroom |
| Living Area | 1,314 sq ft |
| Total Structure Area | 2,112 sq ft |
| Lot Size | 40 acres |
| Year Built | 1926 |
| Architectural Style | Cottage |
| Stories | 1.5 |
| Parcel/APN | 521703000100 |
| Garage | Detached two-car garage with electric service and garage door opener |
| Heating | Forced air, propane; furnace installed in 2025 |
| Water | Private well |
| Sewer | Mound septic system |
| Electric | 100-amp service |
| Waterfront | None |
| Road Surface | Paved |
| Major Land Features | Wooded, rural 40-acre parcel with 1,320 feet of road frontage |
View the Listing
Continue to Zillow for additional listing information, property details, and contact options.
Continue to Zillow — $165,000Photography & ownership credit: Original property photographs are credited to the original photographers, and ownership information is credited to the property owner(s) as presented in the original listing. Please refer to the original Zillow listing for the complete listing record and contact information.


