Vilas County (Milwaukee, Oneida, Eagle: real estate market, rent, house)

[GraniteStater]

I was looking at the new 2006 Census Demographics and it appears that Vilas County continues to be gaining population. It seems like this area cater to retired people because it seemed like their were a lot of people there that had ties to the Milwaukee or Chicago area. When I was there on vacation last year for the first time I was really impressed by how friendly a lot of people were, and the northwoods activities on all the lakes. The crystal clear oligotrophic lakes are spectacular! Do any of you have experiences with the county, or is it becoming overrun by people from large cities that are driving up the local real estate prices?

[GraniteStater]

Does anyone have any info on Vilas County? I have heard that it is a resort area that caters to tourists that come from many of the urban areas like Milwaukee and Chicago. It also appears that the real estate market is becoming inflated because of all the money coming in from larger urban areas. I also see that non-farm employment has grown by over 40% during 2000-2004. What are the main types of jobs that exist in the county? Hopefully, I will be able to take a vacation up there sometime this summer because I really enjoy the lakes, boating, and all the other great outdoor activities

[Drover]

I used to have a family connection in Oneida County (one county south of Vilas), which afforded me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in an area about a mile south of Vilas County. You are correct in that the area is being "bought up" by Chicago and Milwaukee folks. Vilas and Oneida Counties are a big weekend/holiday playground for city folks any more. While there has been a lot of development in the area, I don't know that there is much actual population growth there. Many of the homes, especially lakefront homes, are used as second weekend/summer/holiday homes by city people and sit vacant most of the time. And yes, that has driven up real estate prices considerably, and that is a major source of tension between people who live in the area full-time and the weekender property owners. There is also occasional resentment of tourists in general, even if you're not an absentee property owner, by people who get irritated that their towns get overrun by tourists on certain weekends. Bottom line is, you may not be as welcomed by locals as you think, especially if you end up buying a place up there. I too have encountered a lot of friendliness in the area -- but mostly from those involved in hospitality and other tourist-centered industries whose livelihoods depend on being nice to tourists and weekenders. But underneath the welcoming facade there is some resentment from those who would just as soon we tourists flooded into some other area.

[muskyhusky]

My daughter lives in [Vilas County] Phelps, near Eagle River, the rent is cheap up there, my daughter bought her home with 5 acres of land for $35,000.00. Of course the house needed remodling and they have the Nicolet National Forest in their back yard. But they also have wild life, deer, eagles, foxes, wolves, coyotes, it's a great place if you don't count the ticks...

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Drover

I used to have a family connection in Oneida County (one county south of Vilas), which afforded me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in an area about a mile south of Vilas County. You are correct in that the area is being "bought up" by Chicago and Milwaukee folks. Vilas and Oneida Counties are a big weekend/holiday playground for city folks any more. While there has been a lot of development in the area, I don't know that there is much actual population growth there. Many of the homes, especially lakefront homes, are used as second weekend/summer/holiday homes by city people and sit vacant most of the time. And yes, that has driven up real estate prices considerably, and that is a major source of tension between people who live in the area full-time and the weekender property owners. There is also occasional resentment of tourists in general, even if you're not an absentee property owner, by people who get irritated that their towns get overrun by tourists on certain weekends. Bottom line is, you may not be as welcomed by locals as you think, especially if you end up buying a place up there. I too have encountered a lot of friendliness in the area -- but mostly from those involved in hospitality and other tourist-centered industries whose livelihoods depend on being nice to tourists and weekenders. But underneath the welcoming facade there is some resentment from those who would just as soon we tourists flooded into some other area.

Eh, I was not thinking about buying a place there. I am perfectly content to just take vacations there and enjoy the northwoods splendor Also, the winters tend to be quite severe in that region so most of the time I visit in the summer I am not big into the ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter like a lot of people are in the area. I agree with you about the larger amount of vacation and resort style homes in the area. I think the same type of thing is happening in portions of central and northern New England as well.

[Drover]

For what it's worth, most of the resentment is aimed at Illinois tourists. They'll probably thank you for not living in Illinois.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Drover

For what it's worth, most of the resentment is aimed at Illinois tourists. They'll probably thank you for not living in Illinois.

I can understand how many of those smaller towns can get overwhelmed with tourists during the summer. Door County is a good example of this. I am looking forward to my summer trip to Vilas County this July! I take full advantage of the long daylight hours that the northwoods experiences during the summer. Boating, fishing, and hiking are some of my favorite things to do in the area.

[tnelf]

I lived in Eagle River for some time and it is not an easy place to make a living. Jobs are scarce and the cost of living is higher. Groceries, gas, etc. It is very touristy in the summer and now the winters with snowmobiling and icefishing. I had a hard time living there because unless you are into the outdoors, there isn't a whole lot to do. Its beautiful country but just not for me.

[fxsts]

Yes, we hate the flatlanders. Why? because when they vacation here they bring all the crap of their big city life with them. We raise gas prices, just before any holiday and any well advertised event. The food stores also raise their prices for the tourists. Only the fools from Ill, buy property here.....Extremely over valued. Most of us locals live off water. We vote for new schools and infastructure, because the flatlanders who don't live here full time pay the property taxes. We tolerate their being here, their inability to pay more than $8.00 per hour if you work for them, because, we literally take them to the cleaners on taxes, food and gas. yes, do come and spend your vacation here..ps, bring lots of money.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by fxsts

Yes, we hate the flatlanders. Why? because when they vacation here they bring all the crap of their big city life with them. We raise gas prices, just before any holiday and any well advertised event. The food stores also raise their prices for the tourists. Only the fools from Ill, buy property here.....Extremely over valued. Most of us locals live off water. We vote for new schools and infastructure, because the flatlanders who don't live here full time pay the property taxes. We tolerate their being here, their inability to pay more than $8.00 per hour if you work for them, because, we literally take them to the cleaners on taxes, food and gas. yes, do come and spend your vacation here..ps, bring lots of money.

Blah blah blah. "We hate you, go away, but before you do, spend money here because we've built our whole economy around you." Why not just cut to the chase and ask us to send you charity checks?

Tweaking angry/bitter year-rounders is half the fun of going up there on any given weekend.

Oh, and I love the supposedly pejorative term "flatlanders" as if northern Wisconsin were some sort of mountainous region. "Oooh look, a 20-foot hill! I bet there's nothing like that anywhere in Illinois!" You sure are a sharp lot up there.