[kellyann]

I am looking for some land for our family to use for camping, fishing snowmobiling and to later put a small house on when the kids move out (1 down 2 to go:>). I am looking at 17 acres in the up nw of newberry. I haven't seen it yet but will make the trip if things keep going well. what's it like there. We live in indiana, in the country now and my husband is a retired(due to injury) carpenter.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Newberry is certainly a great place for recreation - especially the winter variety. It is a great location for snomobileing with Grand Marais to the northwest, the falls and Paradise (Whitefish Point area) to the west. Newberry itself has all the amenities that a small UP town would have and you would be near M-28 which is the main east-west road across the UP. Sault Ste Marie (The Soo) to the east and Manistique to the south are the largest cities closest to Newberry. The Soo is maybe an hour and a half away. St. Ignace and Mackinac are about the same time wise and is where you will find a lot of summer activities. A Traveller's note: all noted drive times are during non-winter advisory driving situations!

[and the]

Lots of nice land in the upper lower. Check out Presque Ilse County near Rogers City, Grand Lake, Lake Huron.

[The Icy River Vagabond]

Prolly not really that wise of you to buy land that you are going to ruin by building a house on it..... Stay in the city.. Its better for the world.

[kellyann]

we may or may not build. i love untouched land too and we will no doubt camp on it for a while. i understand where you are coming from icy river vagabond. we don't live anywhere near any city and never plan to but cities do seem to grow up around us don't they?

[TaxBait]

Originally Posted by kellyann

... i love untouched land too and we will no doubt camp on it for a while...

There is no "untouched" land in MI. The entire upper peninsula and most of the lower was logged off years ago.

As for "holding" private land that pretty much leaves in out of reach for the average person. Only the very rich can afford to pay 2% - 3% per year in property tax (non-homestead rate) and lose another 5+% per year in interest. Ever wonder why MI is dotted with small tracts of state land? Much of it was scooped up during the depression when owners couldn't pay the taxes.

The economics of buying land to hold for reacreation alone are just not there. Most people buy land for the hope of appreciation due to its economic potential. Market prices are set on those expectations. Oddly enough there are more programs in MI to offer tax incentives not to develop farm land (aren't farms already developed?) than natural land. I'm not trying to discourage you from buying a private tract at all, but if recreation is the goal, you might consider buying into an association. They do exist in MI. The idea is that collectively you can purchase large enough tracts to be useful in preserving natural habitats. A lone 40 acre tract is pointless when surrounded by development. Just as in the city, you can't control your neighbors.

[Michigansnowflake]

A lone 40 acre tract is pointless when surrounded by development.

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I disagree, it would be your own 40 acre haven on which development could not pass. Its a big enough buffer zone to be able to ride your sled, x-country ski, hunt, camp.....all without being bothered. True, its not a huge plot of land, but people are guarenteed to only get so close to you

[beulahbear]

hi and thank you for reading my post. i'm native to northern michigan. beulah actually. i've been working on a project for an artist retreat and i've been inquiring land in the upper peninsula. ideally, vacant land, mainly wooded and dense with habitat with some open area for organic farming. i would ssek to build some eco-friendly housing structures such as strawbale method and passive solar energy. the objective is to provide a place for people to live and explore their creative process by cultivating a dialogue between human and their natural environment. i've been also seeking in northern lower michigan closer to where im from but fear that it may be too late to one, find ample land that isnt completely consumed with pollution, corporate developments or just to outrageously priced. so if your living in the u.p. or know of any leads on land and someone who would also consider a land contract, please contact me at [mod]phone number removed[/mod], or may email at [email]aireannon@yahoo.com[/email].

cheers, robert