From Chicago to Eagle River...? (Madison, Rhinelander: condos, vacation home, live in)

[mythreelads]

Hello. I am seeking advice from people familar with the Eagle River/Land O Lakes/Rhinelander/ etc area`s. We have three small children and currently reside in the Chicago area (Skokie). We have traveled to a summer home a friend of our`s has on Duck Lake in Land in Lakes for the past five summers, and this year for our first Thanksgiving?


We are looking for a nice vacation home on a lake for under 200K...is this a possibilty?

[Megan1967]

You might want to post this on the general Wisconsin forum rather than the Madison forum. Also, people in the Chicago area might be able to help.

[Drover]

A vacation home for under 200K is possible. But if you want a lakefront home with frontage -- especially a lake on the chain like Duck Lake is -- expect to pay about that much for a 3-season cabin or a very small ranch that will need serious updating. If you're willing to settle for something off-lake with deeded lake access, you'll have more options.

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by mythreelads

Hello. I am seeking advice from people familar with the Eagle River/Land O Lakes/Rhinelander/ etc area`s. We have three small children and currently reside in the Chicago area (Skokie). We have traveled to a summer home a friend of our`s has on Duck Lake in Land in Lakes for the past five summers, and this year for our first Thanksgiving?


We are looking for a nice vacation home on a lake for under 200K...is this a possibilty?

I live in that general area (understanding that description covers a lot of land).

My only input is that with more frequent drought- due probably to climate change- many people who bought 'lake frontage' on smaller bodies of water now find that they instead have 'meadow frontage'.

[crazyme4878]

Look up into the Watersmeet, Michigan area, too. For some reason, crossing that invisible line tends to cut the prices down a little.

[Drover]

Oh yeah, another option that's gaining popularity is lakefront condos. Most condo complexes have deeded dock space on the waterfront. If you don't require a detached house you should find some decent waterfront condos in your price range.

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

Look up into the Watersmeet, Michigan area, too. For some reason, crossing that invisible line tends to cut the prices down a little.

The western UP is cheaper because it's kind of in a recreational no-man's land; too far away from the major cities to be convenient for weekending.

[43north87west]

I agree with Drover and direct the response to the OP:

The UP of Michigan is simply too far to be practical for a weekend home for most people from Chicagoland. That changes dramatically if you have the ability to telecommute or simply have the ability to spend a longer amount of time than other people do.

If time is on your side, the UP has much less expensive vacation property, at the price of a longer drive. The reward--if you enjoy such things--is that the UP is comparatively untouched, and can be an excellent value. The potential down sides are that there exists minimal Chicagoland type civilization, and the cold weather lasts for a much longer time.

[crazyme4878]

Yes, but she is looking in the Eagle River/Land O Lake area--Watersmeet is only 30 minutes from Eagle River, 15 from Land O Lake. I figured Watersmeet is still within the applicable driving distance.

[Geechie North]

'Hello. I am seeking advice from people familar with the Eagle River/Land O Lakes/Rhinelander/ etc area`s."

I believe the OP is describing most of North-Central Wisconsin.