LAKEFRONT LIVING AT IT'S BEST ON ONE OF 90 CLEAN LAKES IN KALKASKA COUNTY

 Kalkaska County is home to some of the cleanest fresh water inland lakes in the state of Michigan. We in Kalkaska County take our water quality very seriously. Many of our lakes have lakeowner associations for a small fee which monitor the water quality from year to year and make adjustments or remediate invasive aquatic species. There is an abundance of government and private environmental agencies in the county providing knowledge and access to resources.

Our "quiet" or "no wake" lakes are perfect for fishing, kayaking or cruising on a small pontoon. Some of the more popular are Eagle Lake, N. Blue Lake, Little Twin Lake, Squaw Lake, Indian Lake or Cub Lake. In the last 12 months sales on these lakes are commanding prices anywhere from $120,000 - $540,000 with an average sale price of $234,000.

Our "all sports" lakes allowing for wakes from jet skis and larger boats are spectacularly clean and up to 86 feet in depth. These lakes include Starvation Lake, Big Twin Lake, Big Blue Lake, Bear Lake, and Manistee Lake. Homes on these lakes are commanding prices of $149,000 to $675,000 with an average sale price of $238,000.  These lakes are low pressure usage and are great lakes for the kids and grandkids to make memories.

That leaves another 70+ lakes in the county of various sizes and depths. I personally live on a small quiet lake just 1 mile outside Kalkaska that is visited regularly by Loons, Great Blue Heron and Eagles. There is a lakefront home in Kalkaska to satisfy almost every budget. Kalkaska County has a wonderful Hospital owned by Munson Medical Center, the Kaliseum Recreational Complex, safe in town walking and biking trails, Conservancy properties to hike on and all the necessities of good living in a small rural village. We are surrounded by thousands of acres of state land with some of the best hunting and fishing in Northern Michigan. In addition, Traverse City, I-75 and US-131 expressways are all within a 25 minute drive.

If you are looking to hire a passionate professional real estate sales agent in Kalkaska County, I am your girl! I have lived in Kalkaska 21 years and have sold waterfront real estate here for 16 years.  I do not carry a large inventory so that I am available for my clients in either the selling or buying sides of the transaction. My goal is to always have happy satisfied clients at the end of a transaction who will refer me to their friends and neighbors. Please visit my website  to learn more about me. I would be happy to have a conversation with you about our current real estate market whether you are buying or selling.

Mary Janik, mary@homewaters.net, 231-384-1207

Fall In Love with Lake Ann

Photo by Heather Higham

It's almost fall in our little village of Lake Ann, Michigan!

I think of Lake Ann as one of the best kept secrets, because lakefront and off water homes tend to be a bit more affordable than the surrounding lake communities. Taxes are definitely more palatable than our neighboring Grand Traverse County, and yes, we are centrally located and well positioned for accessing the surrounding area's greatest features. 

There are many hiking and biking trails, antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, beaches for swimming, fishing and boating, all at your fingertips within and around beautiful Lake Ann. Opportunities for fun don't end with the summer season. Hiking and biking trails are at their most spectacular in the autumn, when the trees put on their fireworks show to send us into winter. When the snow flies there are groomed snowmobile trails essentially in "the backyard" of the village, and Crystal Mountain Ski Resort is just a short drive down the road. There is four-season fishing for perch, lake trout, smelt, whitefish, and rainbows, and bass within reach of Lake Ann. And those rivers, the Betsie and Platte, they are beckoning you home.

So plan your next day trip to this welcoming community of Lake Ann. While you're here, check out this amazing home with sunrises lifting above the meadow spotlighting this home and a breathtaking sunset view across Lake View Lake. Not to mention the outstanding features of this custom built home.

Don't forget to stop by the Lake Ann Brewery or Stone Oven for a sip or nibble while you're in the area. Happy Trails!  ~Vince Edwards - 231.715.9037~