Canton Township is one of Southeast Michigan's most consistently active real estate markets — and Ken Turkington and Kirk Chivas have been financing homes here since the very beginning of their mortgage careers in 1997. This is not a market FCF entered recently. Canton, Plymouth Township, and the Plymouth-Canton school corridor are where Ken and Kirk built their reputation and where First Commerce Financial has been doing business for nearly three decades. With a median sale price around $378K–$424K, homes going to pending in as few as 5–26 days depending on the season, and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools as one of the strongest school district draws in all of Wayne County — Canton remains one of the most compelling family destination markets in Southeast Michigan.
As an independent mortgage broker, First Commerce Financial shops 20+ wholesale lenders to find your best rate — with zero junk fees and same-day pre-approvals. When you call, you reach Ken or Kirk directly. Not a call center. The co-founders who have been financing Canton homes since 1997.
🏛 Why Canton? The Plymouth-Canton Schools Story
The single most important fact about the Canton real estate market is Plymouth-Canton Community Schools — one of the most highly regarded school districts in Wayne County and a primary driver of buyer demand from families relocating to the area. P-CCS serves Canton Township, Plymouth Township, and the City of Plymouth, and its reputation for academic performance, athletics, and community programming is a core reason families choose Canton over comparably priced communities in surrounding townships.
For buyers with school-age children, the P-CCS boundary is frequently the deciding factor in their home search — and it creates sustained, consistent demand in Canton that holds up even when the broader Michigan market softens. Ken and Kirk have been financing homes for P-CCS families since 1997 and understand this market from genuine firsthand experience.
Canton Neighborhoods and Subdivisions We Finance
🏛 Cherry Hill Village
Canton's signature new urbanist community — walkable streets, mixed-use town center, and a neighborhood character that stands apart from the surrounding subdivision landscape. Single-family homes and townhomes from $350K to $600K+. Cherry Hill Village attracts buyers who want genuine neighborhood walkability and community character in a Wayne County location — a combination that is genuinely rare in Southeast Michigan. Strong resale demand and consistent appreciation driven by the community's scarcity value.
🏛 Pheasant Run & Bradford
Two of Canton's most established family subdivisions — mature trees, cul-de-sac streets, and single-family homes in the $350K–$500K range that have held value consistently through multiple market cycles. Bradford's larger lot sizes and Pheasant Run's community amenities both attract the move-up buyer who wants established Canton character without the new construction premium. Strong P-CCS school access throughout both subdivisions.
🏛 Summit on the Park Area
The neighborhoods surrounding Canton's Summit on the Park community recreation center — one of Wayne County's finest municipal recreation facilities with fitness, aquatics, and community programming. Homes in the $300K–$450K range that attract families who prioritize community amenity access alongside P-CCS school quality. The Summit on the Park area represents Canton's best combination of value, schools, and lifestyle infrastructure.
🏛 Folsom & North Canton
North Canton's established residential neighborhoods along Ford Road and Sheldon Road corridors — a mix of older ranch and colonial homes in the $275K–$400K range that represent Canton's most accessible entry point. Popular with first-time buyers and investors who want the Plymouth-Canton school district at price points below the newer southern Canton communities. Strong rental demand from the area's large professional and tech worker population.
🏛 Sunflower Village & Fairways
Canton's active adult and golf course corridor — Sunflower Village's 55+ community and the Fairways golf course neighborhoods attract retirees and downsizers who want to stay in the Plymouth-Canton area after their children have left the school system. Condos and ranch-style homes from $250K to $450K. Strong demand from the Wayne County active adult buyer segment that consistently prioritizes Canton's retail infrastructure and community quality.
🏛 South Canton New Construction
Canton's southern tier along Clark Road and beyond — where the newest residential development is concentrated. New construction single-family homes from $450K to $700K+ in master-planned subdivisions with modern floor plans and current construction standards. The southern Canton new construction market attracts corporate relocation buyers from Ford Motor Company, Amazon, and the broader Detroit metro employment corridor who want a new home with P-CCS school access.
The Canton Market in 2026 — What Buyers Need to Know
Canton is one of Southeast Michigan's most active real estate markets — and that activity level means buyers need to be prepared to move quickly. Well-priced homes in desirable P-CCS subdivisions regularly go to pending within 5–10 days of listing. The sale-to-list ratio runs at 99%, meaning buyers are routinely paying near or at asking price and occasional bidding situations still occur on the right properties.
At the same time, Canton's market has modestly softened from its peak — median prices are down slightly year over year depending on the source and month, days on market have increased slightly from the 2021–2022 frenzy, and buyers have meaningfully more selection than at any point in the past four years. The combination of an active but not frenzied market and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools continues to make Canton one of the most attractive family relocation destinations in Southeast Michigan.
📈 Wayne County Transfer Tax — What Canton Buyers Must Budget
Michigan has both a state transfer tax and a county transfer tax — and Wayne County's combined transfer tax is one of the most important closing cost items for Canton buyers to understand. The combined Michigan and Wayne County transfer tax runs approximately $8.60 per $1,000 of purchase price. On a $400,000 Canton home that is roughly $3,440 in transfer taxes — a meaningful closing cost that buyers relocating from no-transfer-tax states like Arizona and Texas often do not anticipate.
We build the correct Wayne County transfer tax into every Canton pre-approval and closing cost estimate. No surprises at the closing table — that is how we have operated since 1997.
Why Canton Buyers Choose First Commerce Financial
Ken Turkington and Kirk Chivas started their mortgage careers at Pioneer Mortgage in Novi in 1997 — financing homes throughout the Plymouth-Canton corridor from day one. They helped build Pioneer Mortgage into Michigan's second largest mortgage lender, Inc. 500 recognized in 1999 and 2002. When they founded First Commerce Financial in 2007, they brought every relationship, every lesson, and every commitment to transparency with them.
That means Canton buyers who work with FCF are talking to co-founders with nearly 30 years of experience specifically in this market — not a commissioned loan officer who started last year. Ken knows the Canton subdivisions. Kirk knows the Plymouth-Canton school boundaries. They know which lenders perform best on Wayne County transactions and which closing cost items Canton buyers most commonly underestimate. That local knowledge is not something you can replicate with a national online lender or a call center.
"Ken and Kirk have been our mortgage team since we bought our first home in Canton. When we were ready to move up, there was no question who we were calling. Same wholesale rates, same zero junk fees, same direct access to the co-founders. Nothing has changed in 15 years except the house got bigger."
— Canton, MI homeowner | Google Review
Loan Programs We Use in Canton
🏠 Conventional Loans — Primary Canton Program
3–20% DownWith Canton's median around $390K–$424K and the 2026 Michigan conforming loan limit at $806,500, virtually every Canton purchase falls within conventional financing territory. We shop 20+ wholesale lenders to find your best rate — and we have been doing it in this market since 1997. Zero junk fees, complete transparency from day one.
🏠 FHA Loans
3.5% DownFor first-time buyers entering the Canton market — particularly in North Canton's more accessible price tier and Sunflower Village condos. At $350K, an FHA down payment runs roughly $12,250. We run FHA vs. conventional side by side so you always know which structure saves more money over the life of your loan.
✈ VA Loans
0% DownSoutheast Michigan has a strong veteran population and Canton is no exception. VA's zero-down benefit at Canton's price points is significant — keeping cash reserves intact while entering one of Wayne County's most desirable school districts. We handle the COE process completely and close VA loans in Canton regularly.
🏠 Move-Up & Jumbo
$500K–$800K+For South Canton new construction, Cherry Hill Village luxury tier, and move-up buyers coming from starter homes in Westland, Inkster, or Ypsilanti. At Canton's upper price tier, wholesale rate access makes a meaningful financial difference — we have wholesale relationships across conventional high-balance and jumbo programs that compete directly against retail bank rates.
🏠 Refinance
Rate & Cash-OutCanton homeowners who purchased at 6.5%+ since 2022 are strong refi candidates as rates move lower. We monitor your rate on our Rate Watch system and call you personally when the math makes sense. No call center, no mass email — a direct call from Ken or Kirk when it is time to act.
📈 Investment & DSCR
InvestorCanton's proximity to the University of Michigan Health System, Ford Motor Company, and the broader Detroit metro employment corridor creates consistent rental demand. DSCR loans qualify based on property rental income rather than personal income — ideal for investors building a Wayne County portfolio without the documentation burden of conventional investment financing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Canton MI Mortgages
Is Canton a good place to buy in 2026?
Yes — Canton consistently ranks as one of Southeast Michigan's most desirable family communities and the fundamentals that drive that demand are unchanged. Plymouth-Canton Community Schools remain one of the strongest school districts in Wayne County. The community infrastructure — Summit on the Park, Pheasant Run Park, the retail corridor along Ford and Cherry Hill — is established and well-maintained. And at $390K–$424K median, Canton offers meaningful value relative to Northville and Plymouth proper while sharing the same school district. For buyers with a 5+ year horizon, Canton has consistently delivered solid appreciation and strong resale liquidity.
How competitive is the Canton market right now?
Still active — Canton's sale-to-list ratio runs at 99% and well-priced homes in desirable P-CCS subdivisions can go to pending within a week of listing. That said, the market has meaningfully moderated from its 2021–2022 peak. Days on market have increased, selection has improved, and buyers have more time to be deliberate than at any point in the past four years. The answer is: competitive enough that you need a real pre-approval in hand before you tour — not a quick online estimate — but not so frenzied that you cannot take a day to think about an offer. We issue same-day pre-approvals that carry real weight with Canton listing agents.
What school district serves Canton Township?
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) serves virtually all of Canton Township, along with Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth. P-CCS is one of the most consistently high-rated school districts in Wayne County — and its reputation is the primary reason families choose Canton over comparably priced communities in surrounding townships. We verify P-CCS boundary assignments for every Canton purchase because school boundary lines occasionally shift near the township edges.
How long have Ken and Kirk been financing Canton homes?
Since 1997 — when Ken Turkington and Kirk Chivas started their mortgage careers together at Pioneer Mortgage in Novi. The Plymouth-Canton corridor was one of their first and most active markets from day one. They helped build Pioneer Mortgage into Michigan's second largest mortgage lender, founded First Commerce Financial in 2007, and have been serving Canton buyers continuously for nearly three decades. When you call, you reach the co-founders directly — not a loan officer who started last year.
What is the Wayne County transfer tax on a Canton purchase?
Michigan's combined state and county transfer tax in Wayne County runs approximately $8.60 per $1,000 of purchase price. On a $400,000 Canton home that is roughly $3,440 in transfer taxes at closing. This is a seller expense in most Michigan transactions but it affects the overall closing cost picture and can influence negotiations — particularly when buyers are comparing offers on the same property. We build the correct Wayne County transfer tax into every Canton closing cost estimate so there are no surprises at the table.
Can I get pre-approved before I start touring Canton homes?
Yes — and in Canton's market you should. Well-priced homes in desirable P-CCS subdivisions move quickly and listing agents take pre-approved buyers significantly more seriously than buyers with only an online estimate. We issue same-day pre-approvals in most cases — a real underwriting review that carries genuine weight with sellers and listing agents. Call Ken at (248) 459-5511 and we can have your pre-approval letter ready before your first showing.
Wholesale rates from 20+ lenders, zero junk fees, same-day pre-approvals, and co-founders who have been financing Canton homes since 1997. Cherry Hill Village, Pheasant Run, Bradford, Summit on the Park, South Canton new construction — straight answers about what you qualify for and what your mortgage will actually cost.
Get Your Free Pre-Approval →📞 Call or Text Ken Directly — (248) 459-5511 · NMLS #137512
Other Michigan markets we serve:
First Commerce Financial | Licensed Michigan Mortgage Broker | NMLS #137512 | Ken Turkington NMLS #137873 | Kirk Chivas NMLS #160828 | Equal Housing Opportunity | Licensed in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and Texas
