In 2007, McKeough Land Company’s Northern Michigan office spoke with over 150 customers about buying lakefront property. Through these and countless other conversations over the years, our team has compiled a list of criteria that customers should consider when looking at lakefront property, particularly in Northern Michigan.

1. Slope to the Water: Does the property sit atop a bluff or have a gentle slope to the water? Many people consider a gentle slope to the water to be more desirable, but we have seen that a property sitting atop a bluff often offers a more panoramic view of the lake that you don’t get with a lower piece of property. One other benefit of being on a bluff is the added privacy from the traffic on the lake. Additionally, the bluff can be intimidating to some who wonder, “How will I even get down to the lake?” In most cases, a sturdy set of stairs or serpentine path can make accessing the water very easy and even provide the opportunity for more deck space.
2. High and Dry: In Northern Michigan, many parcels of lakefront property are only a few feet above the ground water. This means owners may have to build a mound septic system. Mound septic systems have been in use for many years and work well, but if you want to avoid a mound septic system, be sure the property you are considering is “High and Dry” and is approved for a standard septic system.
3. Quality of the Community: When you purchase lakefront property, ensuring your property value remains strong is extremely important. If there are no architectural guidelines governing what type of home your neighbor can build, you run the risk of your property losing value because the neighborhood devalues your property. Be sure to check the association’s protective covenants before purchasing.

These are a few of the criteria we have isolated as being important factors when choosing lakefront property in Northern Michigan. Please come back and visit our blog to learn more about McKeough’s properties and the real estate market “Up North.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 2:20 pm and is filed under Michigan, News, Northern Michigan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.