[OhioNative]

OK, I know this is broad, but my wife and I have discussed buying some property in Northern Michigan for summer recreation. Does anyone have any advice for where to look? We would be interested in somewhere north of Mt. Pleasant, with national forest access - either the area between, say, Big Rapids and Manistee, or on the other side near the Au Sable River. Any ideas or assistance in narrowing my search?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by OhioNative

OK, I know this is broad, but my wife and I have discussed buying some property in Northern Michigan for summer recreation. Does anyone have any advice for where to look? We would be interested in somewhere north of Mt. Pleasant, with national forest access - either the area between, say, Big Rapids and Manistee, or on the other side near the Au Sable River. Any ideas or assistance in narrowing my search?

That's so specialized OhioNative that I would hire a buyer's agent to help you out, who is a native of the area and knows the ins and outs. The buyer's agent gets paid from the seller's commission, generally speaking.

Do a search for specialists in Northern Michigan properties, using the keywords that you used like national forest, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Manistee, etc..

Good luck!

[krupp]

Stay away from grayling, even though it is beautiful, but with the bombing range near by your investment will not rise, not that any investment will rise in michigan for the nest 7 years or so.
Cheboygan county is near the express way and near state parks, pigion river forest.
Gaylord is a nice town.
But Traverse City is the best bet for a good investment. Right now the bottom is dropping out of Michigan property and there is no end in sight, a good time to buy, yes, but may loose money until the market makes a come back. with the whole country going into recission I think that Michigan is going to be on the front of that sleigh ride.

[M TYPE X]

Only the Traverse City to Harbor Springs coastline appreciates well, because you have both Chicago and Detroit money. Inland, you should have no problem buying, but view it as a recreation, not financial, investment. My parents have property along Lake Michigan in the UP, and it has not appreciated very much at all since they bought it in 1991. The Lake Huron coastline has not appreciated at all.

If you like snowsports and having local shopping, and want to be inland, the Gaylord area should have all kinds of options for you.

[darstar]

You should consider your commute Just how far do you want to travel to get there...... Mostly , the fuhrer north you go , the better it gets, but , not always..
I think too many people stop before going to the good stuff, just because it means an hour or two more , or less driving. Your vacation home should be as dramatic as possible, with in your budget. Most of Michigans interior all looks the same, and , it will never change.You need to get to the UP for the real changes , from , what you may be used to in Ohio.
Things like cool summers , less traffic , and people , can make for a more enjoyable place to spend the seasons. The UP fits that bill , and , at a lower cost , for land , and housing. A couple of hours more drive , can , make a world of difference. determine the trade offs first, then zero into an area that fitts your drive time, and budget. Michigan , IS a long state, south to north, especially when you include the far reaches of the western UP, but , its worth it........go north young man, go north, as far as you can handle.

[FiveEleven]

You know, the thing about the Internet is that misinformation is readily available and has a long shelf life.

Despite the erroneous declaration above, Lake Huron coastline in the NE portion of the state does appreciate, and quite nicely. Those who are ill-informed might think the coast is all rocky, which it might be in certain areas of Lake Huron. However, a quick look at Tawas Bay all the way North to Black River and Alpena reveals some of the most beautiful long sandy coastline the State has to offer. Harrisville, in particular, has a harbor of refuge, a lovely little main street, art fairs, a Wine festival, Harrisville State Park and beautiful homes. Our dream is to be snowbirds some day, God willing, and if we could live in Harrisville from Spring to Fall, we would be so happy. Lots of smart folks have made this area their home, and Lake Huron homes (espcially in Black River and Harrisville) are lovely, not too pretentious like our Western shore neighbors, and fairly well priced.

[darstar]

It would be a shame if everyone wanted to live in the same place. What a mess that would be.! Places like southern Ca. have experienced such , and , parts of Florida. Eventually some of these areas finally burst, under the load of increased population. Infrastructures just can't handle it............ So, I am glad that there are many views as to where to go in Michigan for retirement living.
The lake Huron Shore has been overlooked by many, and , that might be good for a lot of the people who have chose to live there. Just look whats happened to the area around Petoskey.

[GonnaBeAYooper]

Get close to Lake Superior for beauty and tranquility.

[jetengineman's wife]

I live in the Tawas area and can tell you that it has a lot to offer it's summer residents (not much for year-round families like me, though). I know a great real estate agent so drop me a line if you want his info. Summers here are truly awesome and we haven't grown beyond a Walmart, a few fast food places and a nice downtown area. If you like to boat, fish or lay on the beach... it's a great place to find a bargain on housing... tons of second homes for sale up here!

[rschneider]

You should check out Canadian Lakes, MI. Not that far of a drive for you, located between Big Rapids and Mt. Pleasant. If you enjoy fishing, boating, golf, biking or hiking we have all that here - with tons of lakes, rivers and golf courses. It is a great vacation spot.