looking to retire in eagle river or surrounding areas

[Rynldsbr]

Originally Posted by damba

Sure, anything seems like a city when you are that far into the boondocks FWIW, one of my parents' closest friend has a small home near Pike Lake. That's about as peaceful of a spot as it gets(!)

I would argue that what you call a 'challenge' is actually a decent opportunity for some to earn a living and continue to enjoy the northwoods, either as a transplant or someone who grew up there. The tourist revenue/presence props up everything that would otherwise could not exist on the same scale (and more often than not, lower quality).

Sometimes the tourist economy can be a catch-22 because it props of the quality of life at the same time driving up the cost of living. Most commodities and services see a significant price increase in the Memorial Day to Labor Day season.

[damba]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

Sometimes the tourist economy can be a catch-22 because it props of the quality of life at the same time driving up the cost of living. Most commodities and services see a significant price increase in the Memorial Day to Labor Day season.

Meh. I disagree with that as being a significant part of the total cost of living. My parents paid the same rate when they needed a plumber in January as they did when I was there in July. Restaurant prices stay quite similar for most if not the same. Bread prices don't go up either. Property taxes are the same and do no fluctuate by month. Gas might move a little but not significantly, since they pay higher all year long than you would further south in Madison or Milwaukee.

Why don't you give some concrete examples? Again, this is really only going to be a massive issue if you are on some sort of shoestring budget.

[Rynldsbr]

Originally Posted by damba

Meh. I disagree with that as being a significant part of the total cost of living. My parents paid the same rate when they needed a plumber in January as they did when I was there in July. Restaurant prices stay quite similar for most if not the same. Bread prices don't go up either. Property taxes are the same and do no fluctuate by month. Gas might move a little but not significantly, since they pay higher all year long than you would further south in Madison or Milwaukee.

Why don't you give some concrete examples? Again, this is really only going to be a massive issue if you are on some sort of shoestring budget.

Mother's roof was leaking and the price to repair was quoted 20% lower based on waiting for October when all the summer residents had left. Body repair to her car was also offered at a discount in the spring if she had it completed before Memorial Day when "business picks up".


A lot of the residents there are on shoestring budgets, and those shoestrings are stretched pretty tight as the taxes have increased over the years on retirement homes due to the popularity (and subsequent value increases) of the lake homes driving up the market. Property off the lakes may still be a value to many, but close to Minocqua absolutely costs more than further out, and that is a direct result of the market being pushed higher by tourist dollars.

[damba]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

Mother's roof was leaking and the price to repair was quoted 20% lower based on waiting for October when all the summer residents had left. Body repair to her car was also offered at a discount in the spring if she had it completed before Memorial Day when "business picks up".


A lot of the residents there are on shoestring budgets, and those shoestrings are stretched pretty tight as the taxes have increased over the years on retirement homes due to the popularity (and subsequent value increases) of the lake homes driving up the market. Property off the lakes may still be a value to many, but close to Minocqua absolutely costs more than further out, and that is a direct result of the market being pushed higher by tourist dollars.

You and I have already covered all of this in the thread- please review all earlier posts.

The assessments are not going up significantly on homes that aren't on prime lakefront property.

[GraniteStater]

Well, I was there yesterday, out on most of the trails. I want to applaud the county for maintaining and marking the trails so well, including the hiking trails and online maps. You made my winter as I was traveling from far away (750 miles one way).