Real estate investment in Northern Michigan can be a passive or active means of growing personal wealth. As housing costs appreciate, simply owning a home in the area is a great way to invest in the future. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

But some people wish to be more involved in their investments. For those who love the fast turn around, manual labor, and problem-solving, house flipping is a popular and fulfilling form of real estate investment.

HGTV popularized the art of house flipping by portraying this DIY renovation business in a way that seems highly accessible. As a result, there’s been a surge of ambitious investors entering the market across the country. Competition to buy…

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This Harbor Springs condominium represented great investment potential for Brook Walsh, Northern Michigan Escapes founder and Broker. The Trout Creek Resort property was purchased by his client for $125,000 who leveraged the team at Northern Michigan Escapes interior design and remodeling division to completely modernize this dated condo. As a result of the transformation, his client was able to use a 1031 exchange to offset the $80,000 capital gain. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

ABOUT 4749 S PLEASANT VIEW AT TROUT CREEK RESORT IN HARBOR SPRINGS

This beautifully designed, three-bedroom, two-bath villa with attention to detail and cutting edge technologies: practical (E.G.: Insulated…

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These condominiums are ideal for families looking to rent out their property, but still, want to visit Boyne Mountain regularly. The Disciples Ridge condos consist of fifty-eight condos each with an upper and a lower condo stacked on top of one another but wholly owned. They are an ideal investment property because you can rent the upper and lower condo separately or occupy one while renting the other. (Click here to see all Disciples Ridge condominiums for sale)

The upper condo is a 1,390 square foot two-bedroom + loft (some are three bedrooms) three bathroom condo. Generally speaking, the master bedrooms have a king bed, the second bedroom has two queen beds, the third bedroom or loft area also has two queen beds, and the living room has a sofa…

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What will change about buying and selling homes within the next year, two years, or five? Predicting the future of any industry isn’t easy. Fortunately, real estate generally offers more accessible and reliable data than other industries to use when making forecasts. That means making reasonable predictions about the not-so-distant future isn’t a complete shot in the dark. By taking what we know from the U.S. real estate industry's long history, we can factor old data against recent trends and technologies. We can use that information to give educated opinions about how the future of home buying and selling might soon unfold. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

With that said, here are some of our…

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These are the original condos at Boyne Mountain and typically offer a lot of space and convenience for a great price. The benefits of Mountain Villa ownership include an ideal location at the base of the high speed 6 man chairlift, Avalanche Bay waterpark is right next to the development, it's directly across the street from Boyne’s Nordic Ski Center, and it has an outdoor heated pool in the summer. (Click here to see all Mountain Villa/Letter Condominiums for sale at Boyne Mountain Resort)

Mountain Villas condos are in one of the best locations in the original Boyne Mountain master plan, Mountain Villas are Alpine - style condominiums. A slopeside neighbor to the Boyne Mountain resort village and Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, proximity makes…

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Elegant and protected homesite neighborhoods above and around the fairways of the Alpine and Monument golf courses. (Click here to see all homes for sale in The Reserve at Boyne Mountain Resort)

Wooded sites are generously proportioned and privately situated. Benefits of Reserve ownership include a private clubhouse, Kitz Cabin, on top of Boyne Mountain’s ski slopes, ski lockers in the clubhouse for owners, convenient access to the resort, Deer Lake, and Boyne City. (Click here to see all Boyne Mountain Homes for Sale)

The Reserve is technically not an official community within Boyne Mountain. As a result, unlike Mountain Club, homeowners are allowed to rent their homes. As a result, several homes are investment properties, some are second homes…

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Water, Woods, and Campsites

Boyne has a river running through it. The 22 mile Boyne River brings beauty and wildlife to Boyne Falls. Swans and ducks paddle along just as kayakers do and eagles soar overhead. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

The Boyne River connects flows into Lake Charlevoix which is the third-largest lake in Michigan. Spanning more than 17,000 acres, and reaching a depth of 122ft, the lake has multiple marinas, a complimentary shoppers dock, beaches, and watercraft rentals. In addition to Lake Charlevoix, the Boyne area is home to Walloon, Deer, Round, and Thumb lakes, all open for public pleasure. As a result, Boyne is often called "Where life meets the lake." (Click here to see all…

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Condominiums are the property type of choice for many homebuyers who are opting for a low-maintenance lifestyle. The Resort Cottage condos are all three-bedroom condos, overlook Lake Charlevoix, and many have a 45ft boat slip. There are nine units at The Resort Cottages. (Click here to see all The Resort Cottage condominiums for sale)

Units 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 all have the same floor plan as follows:

The garage and third bedroom along with its ensuite bathroom are located on the main level. The living room and its patio overlooking the water, kitchen, dining room are all on the upper level of the home. The master bedroom and its patio overlooking the water and ensuite bathroom is on the third level of the condo. Also, the second bedroom…

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Condominiums are the property type of choice for many homebuyers who are opting for a low-maintenance lifestyle. With these properties, the upkeep of the shared amenities such as the pool, gym, and tennis courts is taken care of, along with the building’s exterior maintenance and the landscaping of the grounds. This means you’ll spend less time looking after your property, and more time enjoying it. (Click here to see all Harborage Condominiums for Sale)

Harborage condos can be two, three, four, and even five bedrooms, overlook Lake Charlevoix, and can be an upper or lower unit. Upper units have vaulted ceilings and command top dollar while lower-level units offer direct access to the beach.  (Click here to see all Lake Charlevoix Homes for Sale)

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So you’ve found your dream home and you want to start the mortgage process to make things official. There are two options for buyers when it comes time to secure their local mortgage lender: either go with a mortgage broker or get a loan from a bank. Many homeowners will tell you exactly what they think the right choice is and while their opinions may be valid, they are often biased by their own past experiences. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

To find out which option is best for your personal needs, continue reading as we look at what it’s like to work with a mortgage broker versus bank:

WHAT IS A MORTGAGE LENDER?

A mortgage lender refers to a bank or other financial institution that specializes…

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