Best area to buy a cottage in Northern Michigan?

[LennyB]

Hello Everyone,

So as I get closer to retirement I'm thinking of buying a cottage / retirement home North of West Branch but South of Mackinaw. What's your area of choice for a home base. I would like to have both Largemouth and Smallmouth waters near. Good restaurants and a Hospital, Dentists, etc.... not to far is a plus also. What would be your first choice area?

Thanks for your input ~ Lenny B

[djkimmel]

I wish I could have such a place near Burt and Mullett but to be closer to a hospital I guess you'd need to be closer to Traverse City maybe? Not a lot of hospitals up there. Don't know anything about the hospitals in Cheboygan or Petoskey.

Some nice lakes around Alpena but it has always seemed more remote to me with no good Interstate nearby. Don't know if they will ever create the new 23 highway anytime soon. Been hearing about it forever. Even then, all the E-W travel up there is by twisty-turny 2-lanes. That probably helps keep it less traveled though.

[bob o]

Gaylord has some pretty good deals, i was looking on Realtor.com eariler today.that is if you don't want a waterfront cabin/house waterfront prices are crazy

[djkimmel]

I'd love a waterfront property... I'd never get anything done though.

[LennyB]

I like the Gaylord area just for the smaller largemouth lakes and the big smallmouth lakes are not to far away if I want to do that. I looked around the Traverse area but very expensive and a lot of traffic. Alpena is nice but not a lot of smaller lakes for when the wind blows.

[djkimmel]

Yes, that's the other reason I was thinking I wouldn't concentrate on Alpena. Not enough choice.

I like the Gaylord area too. Have stayed near there some times and it doesn't seem that far to get to many places from there.

Not surprised TC is overpriced! I've never liked the traffic down that way either. I usually cut across North of there unless I absolutely have to go down that way. Good luck.

[LAPORTE]

I have a place in Oscoda on the foot pond. We love going there on the weekends but I just couldn't imagine living full time up north anywhere... Seems like Ii have to be closer to stuff....

Now retirement home. I'm thinking Emory,Texas for the winter months and Belleville for the Summer time

[LennyB]

Good idea LaPorte  We are thinking about East Texas for the winter and Northern Michigan for the summer.

[Waterfoul]

Anywhere in Leelanau county.  Some good lakes to be fished, GT Bay isn't far, and it's close enough to everything you need.  My family has had a place on Glen Lake since the mid 80's and we love it up there. 

[thedude]

anything between cadillac and traverse city.  cadillac is only 40 minutes torch/skeg/elk.  I'd personally go looking on belleaire or some of the smaller lakes in that chain for waterfront

[TheFishinPollock]

Contact Christian Nelson at remax of elk rapids. Tell him you know matt novak, me. Kalkaska county is cheaper than antrim county and much less than grand traverse to live in without the traffic. Which really is not bad.

[motocross269]

I have a place up by Cadillac on a small lake called Hicks lake...I really like the Cadillac region because I am within an Hour of some great smallmouth fishing and have a ton of smaller inland lakes to play around on.... There is great Kayak, Steelhead and Trout fishing on the Muskegon, Pine, Pierre marquette, and Manistee rivers..Also have Hopendyl dam and tippy dam within a close driving distance..
I also like that region for the ORV/Snowmobile opportunities, The best hiking trails south of the bridge in the Manistee National forest, Public Hunting land is abundent and plenty of Golf courses if I want to go that route for a reason to drink some beer...Also the Taxes are cheap..

Don't turn your back on Alpena....There is a good hospital in the city of Alpena, but like I found out with my dad when he was sick it is tough to beat the hospitals in the southern region ...
It takes a pretty good wind to get blown off from Long lake it happens but you can always tuck into the North West end.....Grand lake can get rough but I can only count on one hand the number of times I have had to retreat to covered areas...You also have Hubbard lake, Fletchers Floodwaters, Black Lake, Thunder river and Thunder bay that offer great fishing opportunities...
Alpena has some good recreational opportunites outside of fishing but they are a little more limited than the west side...but one of the bonuses of the Alpena area...When I visit my Inlaws on Holiday weekends the amount of people on the lake is tolerable..When I go to Cadillac or Traverse city it is almost unbearable being on the lakes or any other tourist trap...The amount of vacationors in the Alpena region is probably half of what it is on the west side...