[RJ17015]

We're thinking about buying a second home in Michigan and escaping the summer heat in Las Vegas. We're from Michigan and still have family in the Metro area, along with adult children in Chicago, so we're hoping to spend time with them also when we go back, so avoiding buying too far north. The kicker is real estate has risen all over, so our budget is under $375K.

Any suggestions for an all sports lake, that won't break the bank? Thanks!

[scorpio516]

I don't know what all sports lake means, but I'd look somewhere along the west coast between Grand Rapids and TC if you want to be closer to your kids (and future grandkids).

Houghton Lake is also a big, big draw. You can still find cabins for less than $300k right off the water. My aunt and uncle had a place off Lake James, parked their pontoon boat, and would take it down the canal into Houghton Lake all the time. Hard to get to from anywhere except Detroit (and then it's a 3 hour drive from DTW)

Cadillac gets you more bang for your buck, because it's harder to get to from Detroit and it's a more depressed community. I wouldn't want to send any kids to school there, but that's not the question . Straight up the highway from Grand Rapids and thus an easy 4:30 drive from Chicago.

Both lakes are big ice fishing lakes too.

Just a couple towns around there.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

I don't know what all sports lake means,

All sports lake means no boating/motor restrictions, i.e., any type of powered boat is allowed. Some lakes do not allow watercraft with motors. Some lakes only allow electric-powered watercraft.

I would look in the zone boxed by the Indiana border to the south, Grand Rapids to the north, and Battle Creek to the east.

[septimus]

At your price point it will either be very small/fixer upper or you will have to move north. We started our search 2+ years ago around Traverse City and quickly realized our $500k budget wouldn't go far, so we slowly crept our search north until we found a place in Levering. I love escaping the southern summers for Michigan.

[mjlo]

I'd center a search in Newaygo, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm and Oceana counties. Plenty of lakes in the area, not quite as in demand as some of the busier places. Feels far away, but still close enough to Grand Rapids if you need specific amenities.

[dave w]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

We're thinking about buying a second home in Michigan and escaping the summer heat in Las Vegas. We're from Michigan and still have family in the Metro area, along with adult children in Chicago, so we're hoping to spend time with them also when we go back, so avoiding buying too far north. The kicker is real estate has risen all over, so our budget is under $375K.

Any suggestions for an all sports lake, that won't break the bank? Thanks!

I sold the big castle in Macomb county and moved up to my second home on Wixom lake. Wixom lake and the other 3 chain of lakes had a dam breach which left them empty. The progress to fix and restore the lakes has been amazing. You could find a real nice lakefront property now for under half your budget and the water will be back 2025. But at the rate they are going I think it will be much sooner. I bought the house next to me, modernized it and is currently on the market. The area is between Midland and Gladwin, not far from your parameters. What intrigued me is the different aspects of the lake from all sports, all day pontoon cruises, (27 miles long) sand bars for swimming, fishing, northern section river ecosystem for kayaking, canoeing for peaceful nature sightings. There is something for everyone. It's not just another round lake.