There are some places that just seem to attract more than their share of vacationers, and Holland, MI is one of them. The area is dotted with vacation homes and cottages, with some people just coming out to enjoy the warm summer months while others are present all year long. So why is it that Holland is such a great area to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life?

It starts with the setting. Near the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, Holland is a perfect setting for taking a vacation. This location alone gives it many advantages over neighboring towns and makes it one of the most-popular spots along the beautiful Lake Michigan coastline.

While one could write a whole book on what is so great about this region, the following…

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Given the popularity and beauty of the Lake Michigan coast, it might seem like an impossible task to find a luxury vacation home that doesn’t completely break your budget. And it is true – property and luxury homes along Lake Michigan can be very expensive. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t some values to be had along the way if you know where to look. One of the best ways to find value is to retain the services of a real estate agent experienced in the Lake Michigan market who can help you hunt down available properties and sort through them to uncover the best deal.

Beyond using an experienced Realtor, there are a few handy tips you can use to narrow your focus and help you come up with that luxury home you have been dreaming of for a…

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What good is a luxury home near Lake Michigan if you can’t share it with the people who mean the most to you? Whether you have a large family and want to make sure everyone can come out to visit, or just like to invite friends frequently, a large home gives you more flexibility to have big events and let everyone take part.

The good news is that the shores of Lake Michigan are dotted with large, luxury vacation homes for you to consider. While some of them are quite expensive, others fall down into a more-affordable range. Figure out exactly what your budget is for this real estate purchase and then start sorting through the listing with the help of an experienced Lake Michigan Realtor.

Besides just having plenty of room for other guests, there are…

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 Owning a home on Lake Michigan or any lakefront property brings cool breezes, relaxing nights, and spectacular views.  However, lakefront properties and their accessories also pose potential injury or death situations which are not present for conventional dry land properties. These properties carry water risks such as drowning, diving into shallow water from a dock or swimming raft and similar situations. Boat propellers, high speed boating, water skiing, personal watercraft, water trampolines and other water ‘toys’ all increase the risk of injury or even death.

 Most people that own waterfront homes are underinsured when it comes to liability insurance. A standard homeowners limit of $100,000 or $300,000 would probably be inadequate for a lake home…

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Whether you are looking for a luxury Lake Michigan home as a vacation getaway for a full-time residence, you will not be disappointed in the options that you find along the shores of the lake. There are plenty of people just like you who have wanted to find a beautiful luxury home in this area to own, so the market responded and many great homes popped up all along the coastline.

So what is there to like about living in a luxury Lake Michigan home? Plenty. Consider the following attractions to this kind of living, whether on a full-time or part-time basis.

  • Beautiful locale. Most of the true luxury homes you find along the lake are located in some of the finest spots near the shore. That means not only do you get to enjoy a luxury home that is…

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1. Holland-Grand Haven, Mich.
> Physical Health Index: 80.9
> Obesity rate: 23.4% (44th lowest)
> Blood pressure: 23.9% (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (37th lowest)

Holland area residents exercised less than the majority of Americans. They were also less likely to eat healthy all day compared to most Americans. Despite unhealthy habits, however, Holland metro area residents were the nation’s healthiest. Nearly nine in 10 survey participants said they had enough energy to get things done the day before, better than in all but a handful of metro areas. Also, proportionally fewer respondents suffered from chronic pain than respondents nationwide did. Just 24% reported recurring neck or back pain, compared with more than 30% nationally. And less than one…

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It is an exciting opportunity to purchase Lake Michigan real estate and provide your family with a place to go relax and enjoy the beautiful setting that is the Western Michigan coast. However, if you just purchase a home or cottage and don’t make any changes to it, you might just feel like you are renting from someone else. In order for your vacation property on Lake Michigan to really feel like a second home, you will want to add some personal touches that represent you and your personality.

One great way to make a property feel more like your own is with a minor renovation of a kitchen or bath. The kitchen and bathroom are two of the most used portions of the property, so redesigning them to exactly your tastes is a great way to make it feel like…

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 Purchasing waterfront property is a dream come true for most people but it also comes with its share of risks.  One of the risks of living on a lake, river, or other water source is the exposure to potential floods. Rising water tables, wind-driven waves, worsening weather patterns and spring thaws all contribute to a growing increase in the need for flood insurance.   A standard homeowners policy excludes any coverage for a loss resulting from a flood.  A water and sewer backup endorsement may be purchased and will provide some coverage in the event that your sump pump fails or can’t keep up but if any ground water enters the residence from another source, there will be no coverage.

 Flood insurance can be purchased both through the private market…

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For sport fishermen, Lake Michigan is one of the most attractive spots in the country to get a line wet and see what they can catch. As one of the largest lakes in the world, Lake Michigan is home to a wide variety of species and can be receptive to many different types of fishing. For the uninitiated, taking on the vast waters of this Great Lake can be quite intimidating. However, once some local knowledge is gained, there certainly are fish to be found.

Among the popular species of fish that are targeted by anglers in Lake Michigan include trout, salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, and more. Each of these species has specific rules and regulations attached to it, so be sure to consult the laws that apply to the area that you wish to fish. Four…

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