Northern Michigan is on the minds of us "downstaters" at all times. We are bred to understand that a sign of success is owning your own piece of northern Michigan real estate. There are countless childhood memories of coming up north, water skiing at our friends Michigan lakefront property or tubing down a river. Being able to relate to stories about God's country is one thing we take pride in during our lunch breaks in the factories downstate. Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been one of the desired travel destinations for many. There are countless lakes, rivers, waterways, hunting land and affordable homes and cottages available.

Unfortunately, northern Michigan is no longer the "wild west". Property up north is very affordable by today's standards. However a much larger pecentage of northern Michigan property is owned by "downstaters". This of course means there are new generations and makeups of northern Michigan visitors. More and more money is being brought to northern Michigan and scattered amongst small business owners and locals alike. Buying a home or cottage on a lake, or making the purchase of Michigan vacant land is becoming a little more costly. However, real estate still remains as one of the most solid investments in the history of saving for the future. The nice thing I've explained to my friend Chris Simon, of Dow Chemical, is that northern Michigan real estate is a place where you can actually see your retirement funds. Many people look at bank statements for 30 years, others go to northern Michigan and actually get some use out of the retirement savings. I've never understood the fascnination with numbers on papers in accounts somewhere. Does it really have the same value? What kind of value can you put on you, your children and grand children spending time up north hunting, snowmobiling, or going fishing?

Investment real estate for sale in Northern Michigan and in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has seen tremendous gains over the past decade. Northeastern Michigan real estate still remains as one of the states best kept secrets. One can still find land under $2,000 per acre and find waterfront homes and cabins under $150,000. Northwest Michigan, in the Traverse City and Petoskey regions, have seen a much higher growth rate. With the dow stablized after 911, many are now considering putting these saved funds towards a less volitile market such as the upper and northern Michigan real estate market.

Northern Michigan offers some of the best inland lake fishing in the United States while Michigan's rivers and great lakes provide some of the greatest Trout and Salmon fishing. Northern Michigan is home to most of Michigan's largest inland lakes including Burt Lake, Mullet Lake, Black Lake, Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake, Manistique Lake, Otsego Lake, Torch Lake, and Walloon Lake. The above are among the premium lakefront and waterfront property listings found in northern Michigan. It will not be common finding property under $200k on these all-sport lakes. All across northern Michigan, you will be able to find the perfect type of lake that suits your needs. Whether you like to swim, pontoon, grill along your riverfront property, or go high-speed boating across the lake, northern Michigan has it all.

If you enjoy the outdoors and the woods, then you are well aware of northern Michigan's whitetail hunting. Wooded Michigan land for sale up north is a very popular purchase among "downstaters". Property is still obtainable and very affordable depending on what you're looking for. There is so much state land made available to hunt by the DNR, one doesn't have to spend the big money on hundreds of acres of northern Michigan land.

Northern Michigan has many cities that are surrounded by the natural beauty our fine state has to offer. In Grand Traverse County there of course is Traverse City. This is on the northewest side of northern Michigan. Of course home to Lake Michigan, you can find numerous cities up and down the coast. Pestokey, Charlevoix and Boyne just to name a few are some of the other great northern Michigan cities along the northwest side. If you prefer the northeastern side of northern Michigan, you may consider purchasing your prized piece of upper Michigan property near Indian River, Onaway or Alpena.

All and all, one can not say enough about the experiences and opportunities that surround the northern Michigan real estate market. If traveling to northern Michigan on your weekends or summers is a priority. I strongly suggest the purchase of these types of properties before all of the baby boomers and GM retiree buyouts have bought up most of the available land for sale.