Alto is an unincorporated community located in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on Platt Lake Creek, at the intersection of Bancroft Avenue and 60th Street, just west of M-50 about two miles south of exit 52 off I-96. Alto, which means "high," received its name from being the highest point along the railroad line on which it is situated. The elevation is somewhat higher to much higher than the surrounding cities of Caledonia, Lowell and Middleville. Alto is situated at 42°51′24″N 85°22′49″W / 42.85667°N 85.38028°W / 42.85667; -85.38028 on the boundary between section 33 of Lowell Township and section 4 of Bowne Township, although it lies mostly within Bowne. The Alto ZIP code 49302 serves most of Browne Township as well as portions of Lowell Township to the north, Cascade Township to the northwest, and Caledonia Township to the west. It also serve a very small area of Campbell Township in Ionia County around the community of Elmdale. Alto was founded by David N. Skidmore in 1845. A post office was established in September 1851 with Daniel C McVean as the first postmaster. Alto was also a station on the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad. It was named by Lucy Skidmore McVean for being the highest point of land between Grand Rapids and Detroit.

What is real estate law?

Real Estate Law refers to laws and regulations that regulate land and things permanently fixed to the land such as a building. Real estate is synonymous of real property and sometimes called realty. Real estate lawyers deal with issues as varied as real estate transactions, as in the sale and purchase of real estate, construction defects, landlord-tenant disputes, eminent domain, 1031 exchanges, foreclosures and mortgage law to name a few.

Answers to real estate law issues in Michigan

The relationship a landlord and a tenant is governed by a contract. That contract is referred to as the lease, A...


There are several provisions within a lease that both...

A contract to sell real estate is an agreement between a buyer and a seller to convey title to a piece of real...

Sometimes, in the course of dealing with a piece of real estate, there may arise an issue of who owns it. Every...

Because of the health problems caused by lead poisoning, the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction...

Property owners may be liable for tenant health problems caused by exposure to environmental hazards, such as...

To protect everyone's right to be treated fairly and to help people find adequate housing, Congress and state...

Typically, a landlord has the right to legally enter rented premises in cases of emergency, in order to make needed...

Under most state and local laws, rental property owners must offer and maintain housing that satisfies basic...

A landlord may be liable to the tenant--or others-for injuries caused by dangerous or defective conditions on the...