631 homes, sold out on new construction. What resale buyers actually pay in 2025–2026, why Brownstown's millage rate changes the Wayne County math, and the full HOA picture.
Bridgewater by Del Webb in Brownstown Township is the largest completed 55+ active adult community in the Detroit metro. Del Webb broke ground here in the mid-2000s and finished the 631st home years ago — so there is no new construction. Every purchase is a resale transaction. That changes the dynamic significantly compared to Kensington Ridge in Milford, where you're buying from a builder with model upgrades and closing cost incentives.
What you get at Bridgewater: a mature, fully-built community where the landscaping is established, the clubhouse programming is deep, and resale prices are transparent from MLS data. The tradeoff is you buy whatever configuration the original owner chose — you can't spec a sunroom or pick your lot. The current average resale price runs approximately $391,000, with a range from the low $360s for smaller Manor Collection homes to $500,000+ for larger Legacy and Classics Collection homes with premium lots.
At Bridgewater you negotiate with a homeowner, not a builder. There are no builder incentives, no closing cost contributions, and no model upgrades. You do, however, avoid the 12–18 month wait of new construction, see exactly what you're getting before you close, and often negotiate based on days-on-market data (Brownstown listings average ~140 days on market, giving buyers more leverage than they often realize).
Del Webb built four collections at Bridgewater, all single-family detached with two-car garages. All are ranch-style with optional upper-level additions on select plans.
| Collection | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Square Footage | Garage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manor Collection | 1–3 | 1.5–3 | 1,100–1,650 | 2–2.5 car |
| Heritage Collection | 2 + den | 2 | 1,400–1,750 | 2–2.5 car |
| Legacy Collection | 2–3 + den | 2 | 1,600–2,000 | 2 car |
| Classics Collection | 2–3 | 2 | 1,750–2,450 | 2–2.5 car |
Wayne County's reputation for high property taxes is real — Detroit's 67+ mill rate is the largest single factor dragging the county average above 1.7%. But Brownstown Township is one of Wayne County's lower-tax jurisdictions, with a 2024 homestead millage rate of approximately 27.67 mills. After the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) removes 18 mills of school operating tax, the effective homestead rate for a Bridgewater owner is substantially different from the county average.
Michigan's Proposal A limits annual taxable value increases to the lesser of 5% or CPI — for existing owners. When you buy, the taxable value "uncaps" and resets to SEV (50% of market value) in the year after purchase. If the seller held the home for years with a suppressed taxable value, your first full tax bill after purchase will be meaningfully higher than what the seller paid. Ask for three years of tax history, not just the current bill, to understand the uncapping impact.
P&I on $344,000 loan. Property tax uses midpoint estimate; verify Brownstown Township current millage via Michigan Treasury estimator before close. Insurance varies by coverage level. HOA is an estimate based on current community data — verify with HOA management.
A local specialist familiar with Brownstown Township resale inventory and tax math can save you from the uncapping surprise.
Talk to a SE Michigan Specialist