DO NOT buy a lake house in Michigan!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- EVERYONE wants a lakefront home in Michigan BUT buying a lake house in Michigan is NOT all sunshine and rainbows. There are things YOU NEED TO KNOW before jumping in and buying a waterfront home. Stop looking at Zillow and watch this video!
Want to move to buy or sell a house on a lake in Michigan and need a (really good) agent? We can help! Visit my site to buy OR sell anywhere in Metro Detroit Michigan: www.movingmi.com
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Paul Wolfert
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Our vertical log cabin up north is 80yrs old and it's slice of heaven on the lake. We updated to metal roof, new windows, beautiful and quiet. Loons and Bald Eagles love our spring fed lake. Only 1 neighbor. Our Lake requires NO WAKE zones at 7:00pm. No regrets and hope to retire there
Your cabin sounds like the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Who needs city noise when you have loons and Bald Eagles for company?
I replaced my septic system. First one lasted 80 years.
"Lake Effect" weather is a real thing.
He didn't mention at all -- the shore line can recede. Waves will eat away at it. Best is to put a natural plant buffer. Forget sinking logs 13 deep or
steel. The natural plant buffer also needs some upkeep. Winter ice will slide up too.
Glad you hit on the lack of Privacy. I'm a Realtor in NY, can't tell you how many potential buyers call asking for a lake property with several acres, they don't want to see their neighbors, private and wooded.. That's the Golden Unicorn if you don't have a Million or over.
😅 "Golden Unicorn" is a PERFECT way to describe it!
A million? On the lake I live a block off of, that buys a 900 square foot block house with 100 foot frontage, about 120 foot deep. A 50 foot wide empty lot, is a half million.
My family owns a cabin on Holy Island in the southern arm of Lake Charlevoix. The property up there has been uber expensive for a long time now. If we hadn’t purchased it a long time ago there’s no way we’d be able to afford to buy it now. The only downside to where we are is we are surrounded by ultra wealthy people that are hard to deal with. If you do the smallest thing they don’t like they freak out despite the fact they do irritating crap on a regular basis.
I absolutely love living the lake life dream. I grew up in the same house that my parents bought. I understand how much work is required to keep it up.
I built an off-grid cabin in isolated rural Michigan, 5 miles from a small town with a boat ramp and harbor on Lake Huron.
Best of both worlds.
Had a lake house for 20 yrs. Sold in 2021. Best thing we ever did. Tired of everything and everyone. Your points are spot on! Especially the rental info.
We love our lake house up in northern lower Michigan, it’s on a 100 acre springfed Lake with tons of pine trees and our place is a three level saltbox style home with 20 steps going down to the lake. It’s a wonderful area , we like it all four seasons otherwise we live in a condo in downtown Detroit and love it there , best of both worlds!
That would be amazing!! How long have you owned it?
@@PaulWolfert , had both for 10 years…
Didn't know that about the water utilities... At least we don't have to worry about gators up here!
True! That's what I tell everyone who wants to move to Florida from Michigan. Even made a video about it: th-cam.com/video/r-EphtayxKw/w-d-xo.html
Nothing like lake living.
I bought a house NEAR a lake with lake access... seems to be the ticket for people like me who just like to fish from time to time!
Absolutely! Lake access is the way to go if you don't want to pay the crazy prices. Great for rentals too
my in-laws had a lake house. the lake was shallow, the fishing was BAD and pontoon rides got boring. at first i thought it would be a blast but it just wasn't so. pretty to look at but then its time to go home.
Thank you for all the great tips 👍
When you want to go to the lake or enjoy your lake so does everyone else. The noise is a real thing. And if you have sensitive pets be forewarned... the fireworks are relentless.
One other downside to lakefront living-lots of bugs! Mosquitoes can be thick. Lots of mayflies all over your windows. And way more spiders, building webs in every corner.
Yes!!! I'm going to make a follow up video and that'll definitely be included. Spiders are out of control
I thought that was going to be the only thing mentioned when I read the headline! BUGS! Lol
We own land in the U.P.
This year I said the UP should have a bug report like Maui has a surf report instead of regular weather reports.
You only mentioned the positive of a deeper lake, in that it is clear. The downside is that it is also going to be colder.
And deeper, colder (oligotrophic) lakes tend to be more difficult for fishing, especially if you want to catch fish right off your dock.
2.5 miles to the bay .... $65 a year for boat ramp access at the local county park. Lake life without the lake hassles/expenses you just mentioned. One just gets really good at launching and recovering the boat daily (as weather permits).
I build multi million dollar lakefront houses. I will be building one a lot that cost $1.9 million on Lake Angelus in Oakland County on 3 acres. Many of my buyers got tired of driving up north 4 hours to their lakefront cottages and wanted to live on a lake year round. Almost all of the lakefront houses I have built in Oakland County do have sewer and water lines. If you just want the scenery and not the noise then don’t buy on an all sport lake. Many lakes only allow quiet electric motors. I tell my lakefront buyers they are the worst buyers because they love it so much they never move again so they are not repeat buyers for me. There is something peaceful about having your morning coffee on the back deck and watching Mother Nature.
"Lots of lakes....no ocean" - think again..... There's a good reason why the Great Lakes are called the Inland Sea!
I've done the Inland Lake thing here in Michigan, highly overrated and by the end of summer most of those Lakes usually stink
We have riverfront and bay front homes. If you are within 1,000 feet or either, you are now required to put in a septic system that costs over $30,000 vs the normal $5,000-$10,000. Also be sure to check how many leech fields you have that can be used if you are required to put in a new one. No leech field, no septic, house is condemned until public sewer comes to your neighborhood.
When the ice breaks up in the winter , and it gets windy. it will push the ice sheets waaay up towards your house too , many have been wiped out because of this
Yup ice push :)
Hopefully, in most cases, the house is back far enough from the shoreline...It's usually the boathouse that gets the ice damage...
Houghton Lake loses a couple every year. Not total destruction, but heavy damage. The lake is wide, and shallow. I've seen ice 15 feet high.
If you have a lake house, people are constantly looking to get an invite to come over. If you're gregarious, that's fine, but you want it to just be you and your family, you have to get accustomed to not letting other impose.
Especially if you have a boat.
Yes! Just like owning a pool.
There is only a limited amount of lake properties a great investment
The house about a half mile down, has two campers and a couple tents in his yard, every 4th of July, and Labor Day. I've seen 15 cars at homes.
I've lived onshore over 60 years. You didn't mention lake level fluctuation. I'm on a Great Lake and the water levels change almost yearly. It cycles with about a 5 to 8 foot range. Canals can dry up, or become too shallow to navigate. That can bring submerged obstructions into play.
If I had a lake house I would go fishing every day that shit is the dream no more asking people for rides to take me fishing I hate living so far away from anything cool I have to ride my bike 5 miles just to fish off a boat launch
(3:29) I think that house is on Lake Shore in Grosse Pointe. If not, it looks a lot like it. (4:06) We live less than a Block from Lake St. Clair. It is not noisy at all, and the only time of year one might hear something is around the 4th of July; and if you don't like the sound of happy people, personal water crafts, boats and the general out doors (DON'T RENT OR BUY THE PROPERTY) and NO you can't hear someone on their cell phone 1/2 a mile away...I think Wolfert hasn't spent enough time on lake properties or on a boat.
2 things. TAXES! Very high in Michigan (compared to Oklahoma where I live now) and beach soil erosion. The waves from storms can wash away much of your front yard. (So don’t build too close to water)
My mom lives on a Michigan lake. One of her neighbors is a ceo. The only privacy his family has is his half acre lot but it's a nice quiet area
Lived and grew up in MN and family had a lake property - this back in late 70's to mid 80's. Depending on the lake but many just got overdeveloped and often had too much vegitation along the shores afterawhile. they also became too noisy. But i did like it from Sept. - November and then ice fishing in the winters were awesome.
Especially the ONLY public lake with SEVEN PUBLIC ACCESSES ON IT!!! But we’ve lived here 50 yrs. It use to not be like this. And we are on city water. Almost all of us are-now.
The very best thing is to EXPLORE our state extensively, each lake offers an explosion of opportunities. Decide your wants/needs, travel travel travel, and you'll easily find your perfect location. You will be surprised how easy it is with the right plans!
Agreed!! What's your favorite place in Michigan?
@@PaulWolfert Munising, and south of L'Anse thru the forests.
@@PaulWolfertSilver Lake, jet skiing on Silver Lake, playing on the dunes and in Lake MI...
Are they cold waters ?
Lake Michigan is beautiful
Agreed! One of the best lakes in Michigan!
But the western wind is chilly year round.
LOL! SPAM! The clickbait is strong! Title is: "DO NOT buy a lake house in Michigan!", then proceeds to list generic issues with lake homes no matter where on planet Earth you buy them and says nothing specific about lake homes in Michigan. Maybe for your next video you can warn us about buying groceries in Michigan while you regail us with a generic list about buying groceries anywhere.
Thank you!!!!
Also, check out the rules and restrictions for boating on the lake.
A girlfriend moved to Michigan, and DIED. She was not a partier, but the neighbor was looking over the fence a bit too much telling them what they could and could not do. She had a heart attack, and died, at age 42. I think the lake house created some stress, she had not experienced before.
I hate lakes live in michigan on a lake instead of HOA try dealing with the lake association 😅
I used to live at the lake each summer. But the lakes got so completely developed it was just a large housing development surrounding water. No privacy, constant noise, no thanks.
Where can I check which cities or counties don’t allow renting?
I wish there was a site that listed them all. Your agent will need to do research on each house. I can help if you're looking in my zone! Movingmi.com
How about actor Jeff Daniel's Chelsea mi. Or where Ted nugget lived in Jackson mi.
Those would be good for another celeb vid! I did hear that Ted Nugent moved away though
My grandpa had a cabin n on a Northern Michigan lake. He loved nothing more than fishing. He always released his fish. A DNR officer walked up to him on his own land and gave him a hefty fine and a ticket. Also, maritime law states that anywhere water touches land is publicly c property. So, keep dreamin' ....he beach is NOT the property owners land.
Wrong. You can walk in the water, in front of a house, but you can not walk on the land. You can not anchor your boat in front, between midnight, and 6 A.M. It's called Rispatian Rights.
@@garyszewc3339Riparian.
3:33 Paul, did you take the drone footage of Jobbie Nooner? That place is such a crazy circus. But, if you're into that sort of thing, then don't miss it in three days from now, June 28th. It's the 50th anniversary.
Now that it's over, have you seen the reports? A few boat and jet ski accidents, with injuries, a few arrests, medical evacuations. It's gotten real stupid out there. For people that don't know, it's a party on an island that's about 10 acres, with over 10,000 boats. To anchor on the shore, you have to go at least a day before, and the boats anchor about 5 rows out. I haven't gone in about 15 years, and it was insane then. If you want to see drunk naked girls dancing on boats, there are tons. The cops don't care, they are only there for medical emergencies or fights. They do have fun arresting drunk boaters leaving the island.
Our daughter has two lake houses in the upper peninsula of Michigan on Lake Michigan and they
can’t have a dock because they keep getting destroyed, so no dock.
That's a great place to have TWO lake houses! I should have mentioned that about docks.
It's true docks don't work on Great Lakes, unless you're in protected bay. Like Grand Traverse Bay.
Can you make a video about Grosse Pointe and one about Dearborn? Both are areas I’m considering moving to / living in long term. I loved your royal oak video. Thanks!
Hey Eli! I DEFINITELY plan to make a video about the Pointe's and would love to help if/when you pick an area. Dearborn is crazy different from that area.
@@PaulWolfert Oh I know it's comparing apples to oranges haha. I'm just curious :)
@@MagicByEli I’d go with the pointes. You have residents only parks with lake access. Plus being so close to the lake it always smells good.
Dearborn has the best food. That includes grocery stores with fresh produce, fresh made hummus, and it's fresher than major grocery food stores, and far less money. Restaurants there are amazing too if you like authentic Arabic food, and prices are reasonable. So if you move to Dearborn, if nothing else, you'll get to eat very well.
Go with the Pointes. I know the areas. I'd go with neither but if I had to choose. I'm more country, less neighbors type. I have lakes all over I can fish at too without appliances rusting faster on a lake itself. A friend had newer same brand appliances rusting away and mine were still like new not being that close to a lake.
Tiny lots. An acre of lakefront property is 1 million near me. Cross the street from a lakehouse is half the price. Yep lakehouses have a main road and boat noise in the front and back. Jam packed. I avoided like the plague. Flood insurance too.
I live a block off of Higgins Lake. I bought just before Liedenomics doubled the cost of housing. I paid $75,000, which it is now worth over $150,000. The cheapest lakefront home sold for $950,000. My house is 1,150 square foot, and that one was a block house, 900 square foot. Most homes on the lake are worth 2 to 10 million.
@garyszewc3339 It's crazy prices now. It's why I'm stuck. If I'd moved where I really wanted sooner, could've got a lot more for my money.
That must be near Houghton Lake. I knew people that bought an old ski lodge in the area that went out of business many years ago.
Good info. No Lake frontage for me.
I own undeveloped lake property in northern lower Michigan. I get offers in the mail weekly, for the property. Nope, no house. We have a travel trailer. I will not sink all my money in to a house and be vacation property poor. Last year we spent only one night there. That was because we spent 5 months on the road, 3 1/2 of it in Alaska! I also can't imagine what the taxes would be with a house on it!
Freakonomics authors studied home pools (which applies to lakes) and found for young children a pool was more dangerous than firearms in the home.
What would be the best lake area in your experience (property safety, bigger lots etc) in Metro Detroit?
It depends on what you'd like to spend 😄 - send an email my way! paul@movingmi.com
To answer your question, it really depends on the "Lifestyle" you are looking for. Are you a power boater? or, enjoy sailing? maybe you like fishing? Do you prefer more of a cottage? Is privacy important? Knowing the answers to these questions will allow a waterfront specialist to zero in on the correct area to find that perfect home.
Only lake would be Lake St. Clair.
Moving up to Onaway or Gaylord in like a month do u know of places to buy or atleast rent in those areas need a 3 or 4bdrm. 1 to 2 bath house w lots of privacy
Did you find anything yet? They’re building like crazy around there.
taxes are high.
Taxes on lake homes are only higher because the value of the home is higher than off-water properties. People buying lake front homes should know that their homes are worth more.
@@PaulWolfertyou didn’t mention riparian fees, which are separate taxes (on top of the already high property taxes) paid by people who own lake front property. And those fees can be quite hefty.
I couldn't afford the taxes, much less the house. Taxes are public knowledge, so I have checked some local houses. A newer one about a block from me, is about 2,500 square feet. His taxes are almost $14,000 a year. It's just his cottage. I just wonder what these people do for a living
@@vmj255 Also "special assessments" (technically not a tax), tied to either Part 307 or 309 of Michigan's NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT.
I wouldn't live on a lake in Oakland County if it was free. Party central, especially Cass Lake.
Haha, sounds like you're not a fan of the party scene! I agree depending on the lake. There are a few private lakes but you'd need to spend a small fortune to live there.
@@PaulWolfertwrong. Rose township
I was 1 block off a lake in west bloomfield. Water is nasty. Lake bottom mucky even tho it was an all sports lake and used a lot. Many People don't realize that you may end up with well water even if you buy an expensive home because a lot of those lake area houses do not have city water access.
When buying any house stay away from any HOA
I lived in a lake house in Michigan. Never saw the appeal. Lots of bugs and useless 9 months out of the year. I just dont like the orientation of the homes facing the lake and the approach being the driveway/garage. I would rather have a nice yard with privacy.
Did I miss your discussion of the pros/cons of "All Sports Lakes?"
No...but it's a great idea for a video. They're all fun and games until your paddle board gets flipped by a wake boat 🌊
thanks bro, im from Indonesia and appreciated for your video, coz i just bougt house beside lake
Glad I could help! Contrats on the new home!
Ii’m 4 miles off of Lake Michigan and the houses are sliding into Lake Michigan. The sand is sliding out from underneath their homes and they trying to save those big beautiful homes so don’t buy anything on Lake Michigan not back covert or South Haven Michigan. that’s a fact then then they got that big nuclear plant, the palace right off Lake Michigan 😢
Those are the same issues hat you would have buying a lake house anywhere in the us pretty much .
You forgot TAXES! If you are not a full time Michigan resident you’ll pay the non-homestead taxes.
Update mid 2024...let's see how many of lake front owners will drop their properties due to outrageous home insurance premiums and new flood insurance requirements
Two more things that a drawback about owning on a lake....If people moore their boats right in front of your house all day...and are talking , laughing, screaming kids, playing music you hate..or are sunning a pasty, big fat, hairy back that you can clearly see, etc...there isn't much you can do about it..actually many boats can moore in front of your house...So there goes your dream "VIEW"as well as piece and quiet..(No escape when you have a headache and really need a nap or your very expensive calming view) If people like that spot they could show up everyday...(You may as well own on the public beach)
Also...if it rains or is even overcast for several days..what you are looking out your window out is grey, grey, grey...GREY for as far up as you can see up and grey all the way down as far down as you look... the lake takes on the color of the sky and you can be looking at gray gray gray gray gray gray for days and days and days depending on the weather actually it's very very depressing when that happens........Just telling the truth here
Northern Michigan lakefront property is the best investment in the State, regardless of what this genius thinks
Thanks to greedy realtors and a lack of housing, prices have gone through the roof in the last 4 years.
Note, as a realtor I wouldn't recommend you to my worst enemy.
The prices going up is not because of "greedy realtors" - it's simple supply and demand. Prices are driven up with people have to compete with a ton of other buyers (because there are no homes available)
The last 4 years saw the explosion of work from home, low interest rates (until last year) and a highly active market. Remote work had a bigger impact on housing prices than "greedy realtors".
Liedenomics caused the housing prices to skyrocket. It's funny, because people not actually looking to move, say wow my house is worth twice as much. Until they realize anything they want to buy has also doubled in price. I bought five years ago. In 2021, my house doubled overnight.
Ummmm........there is no place on Earth to live that isn't without challenges or even dangers. The title of this video misleadingly and laughably stereotypical and just plain wrong.
For the breadwinner who has to earn the big money to pay all the extra costs associated with having a desirable lakefront property, it's not such a great deal. Even successful doctors struggle to keep on top of the high costs associated with their 2 or 3-million-dollar lakefront property. Property taxes can be HUGE, for example, $10,000 or $20,000 per month. And when they are home, they get to hear the constant drone of jet skies ridden by teenagers who have nothing else to do but do water-donuts for six straight hours.
For those who can sit around and enjoy the lakefront property all day and have their friends over without a care in the world, then of course it's great if they don't mind the fact that they almost never see the breadwinner.
Personally, I would rather have a more modest house in-town, have a few toys, and most importantly have time to enjoy the very short life we all have with friends and family than to have to work 70 hours a week every week to pay for a lakefront home. It's amazing how short a lifetime is.
I've found that the wealthiest people actually work less and enjoy their homes more.
Bob Segar has one of the largest lake homes in the state (26,000 sq/ft+) and he pays 10k/month in taxes. Not many homes are that big on lakes around here.
Of course, there are celebrities, sports players who made $20 million a year, and super-wealthy business moguls who have millions in the bank, paid for their home with a check, and are financially independent. I am talking about for the millions of people who still have to work for a living and who don't have $100 million in a bank somewhere. @@PaulWolfert
worthless info
joke
dismiss it all
You only mentioned the positive of a deeper lake, in that it is clear. The downside is that it is also going to be colder.
Ah, true. Good point! I'm going to be making a new version of this video.