Russ Ravary, Realtor

[russravary]

If you are thinking of retiring, or downsizing in the Metro Detroit area give me a call or email me at [email protected] or 248-310-6239.

I have been one of the top realtors in the area.  I help my clients get top dollar for their local Metro Detroit Home.  I also help my clients prepare their home for sale.  I can advise you what you CAN do to get more for your home or what not to because you won’t get your money back.  That’s my job to help you get the most for your home.

[russravary]

Top Realtors in Oakland County Michigan

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Oakland County and have not used a real estate agent in years you may be wondering who you should hire to represent you.  

Best Realtors in Birmingham MI 

Selling your home

If you are looing to sell your home in Oakland County you of course want the absolute best price you can get.  You want to net the most money possible.  One of the things you want to look at when hiring an Oakland County realtor is what the costs are.  What I mean by that is what is each specific realtor going to cost you. What does this real estate agent charge for selling your home.  What is the compliance fee cost.  These two items can cost you thousands of dollars.

Just because a good Oakland County real estate agent charges 6% to sell your home does not mean it is the smartest thing to hire them.  Why over pay when you can hire a great realtor that only charges 4%.  On a $400,000 home that could be $8,000 more you would be putting into your bank account.  On a $600,000 home you would be putting $12,000 in your wallet.  That is big money.  So why throw your money away?  Why give it to some real estate agent when it is your money.  After all you paid all the house payments, all the insurance and taxes, and paid for all the repairs.  Does the real estate agent really need to score off your hard work.  Keep that money in your pocket!

Call me today to lock in that low 4% selling rate.  You get great marketing and a realtor that knows how to negotiate.  248-310-6239

Best Realtors in South Lyon MI

Buying a home  

When buying a home you want a realtor that is patient.  An agent that does not care whether you look at 5 houses or 35 houses.  You want an agent that puts your wants and needs first.  An agent that wants you to find the home that fits you and your family without being pressured every time you go to look at houses.

Whether you are looking for good schools in Oakland County or a safe community in Oakland County you want a good real estate agent that will provide you with the information to make a smart home buying decision.

You want the agent to point out issues in homes you are seeing when the agent notices them.  You want an honest realtor that will give you the pros and cons of the homes when you ask them.  Plus you want a realtor that gives you an amazing home buyer bonus.  After all $500 is good money.  You would not walk by $500 on the ground.  So why pass it up when hiring a realtor? 

Best realtors in Novi MI 

Here are some testimonials from past client that you will like

We had known Russ Ravary for several years before we had him list our home. When my husband accepted a position out of state we wanted to sell our home quickly and for full market value.  We called Russ and he agreed to list our home. Russ walked through our home and was very detailed on useful insights for pre-listing renovations/staging and effective showings. We followed all of his advice. Our home received two full-priced offers simultaneously within two weeks of the listing. Each offer had different contingencies and Russ walked us through each offer to explain the best offer for us. Russ was a proactive facilitator during the sale negotiations/due diligence. Russ went above and beyond the duties of a realtor: he stopped by to calm emotions and help find required paperwork; he was in contact with our title agencies for the sale of our old home and the purchase of our new home and saw all tasks to perfect completion. All of these tasks, whether business-related or interpersonal, were accomplished with a noticeable degree of competence, humility, integrity and grace. Russ has that perfect balance of knowledge, drive and enthusiasm that will get the job done.

-Ruth B.

Best real estate agents in Walled Lake MI

We transferred from Illinois to Michigan and looked for homes for approximately 8 months!  Russ was extremely patient with us never pressuring us to settle.  We were looking for a lake home and stumbled over  Russ' Michigan lake web-site.   It was apparent after talking with him he was extremely knowledgeable about bodies of water on the east side of Michigan.  Russ was also very dependable and responsive anytime we had questions.  He  worked hard coordinating unexpected issues for the closing and was very reliable.

-Paulette A.

Best realtors in Auburn Hills MI

Russ is the best real state agent you can find in this area.  He has helped me twice to buy a home.  For my first home we spent almost 6 months looking for something me and my family liked.  Russ kept showing us as many properties we liked without getting PUSHY.  He never tried to influence our decision to buy a particular property but was always there to help us make a right decision. He showed professionalism, expertise and excellent knowledge of the area - Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, Rochester Hills and everywhere else. For my second house as well he quickly became available and helped us search our new home.   Russ also helped us sell the first house and walked us through the entire process really well.  He did all the advertisement, photos, write-up and everything it takes to sell a house. He even mopped my floor and helped us in getting it painted.  Did I mention, I wasn't even in Michigan when Russ helped us sell the house? Like I said, if you are in the area looking for your next house or planning to sell, give a call to Russ...without any doubts.

-Anurag B.

Best realtors in Commerce Township MI

Whether you are looking for a lake house in West Bloomfield or looking to sell a home in Birmingham give me a call at 248-310-6239

[russravary]

Best metro Detroit real estate agents

If you are looking for a really good full time real estate agent to look out for you and help you with your next move you have come to the right place.  You want a really good agent that communicates well with you and explains your options.  That real estate agent will also explain what could happen when you take a certain option or route.  That way you do not just blindly make decisions without knowing the consequences. 

Best real estate agents in Auburn Hills MI

You want an agent that is experienced.  You want a real estate agent that has a few years on the job and has the experience of handling problems.  That way you do not have to stress over issues. If they have 10 years of working in the business it will be better for you than somebody that has just gotten into the business.

Best realtors in Birmingham MI

You want a full time agent.  That way your Metro Detroit real estate agent is available most of the time to respond to you, and to respond to the other agent.  If the agent is not full time they may be at another job and no answer a call from the listing agent asking them if you could do something different on your offer.   They move on to a second offer if your part time agent does not get back with them in a timely manner.

Top realtors in Farmington Hills Michigan

You want an agent that has five star reviews and a track record of getting homes sold.  If they only sold one house last year or only helped a couple of people buy homes you have a real estate agent that is not doing a lot of business.  You want somebody that really knows and works hard for their clients and get’s the home deal closed.  An agent that only sells one, two, or five homes is not your best choice.  You want the best metro Detroit real estate agent representing you.  They will help make your move easier.

Best real estate agents in Highland MI

I would like to apply to be your realtor.  I am very good at what I do.  I have helped hundreds and hundreds of clients buy and sell homes.  Read my reviews on Zillow and Angies list.  You will see I have quite a few great reviews.  I take care of my clients, I work hard to protect them as much as possible and try to make their home deal easier and less stressfull.  Give me a call or text.   My cell is 248-310-6239

Top realtors in Milford Michigan

Here are a few reviews s from another website.  Jochen Willig

Russ helped us to find our Lakefront Home. He is very knowledgeable and always has your best interest in mind. We looked for almost 1 year viewing over 40 homes. Russ never pressured us or tried to “sell” us a home, he is a very patient real estate agent. What I also appreciated was the fact that he responded usually within a couple of hours by phone or text and tries to set up a showing as soon as possible, which is the key in a seller’s market. Having an agent with many years of experience and knowing the local market is key in the negotiation process. Having Russ on your side makes this foreign process (for first time home buyers) a very smooth and and enjoyable experience. We definitely recommend Russ, if you plan to buy a home in SE Michigan! I also highly recommend visiting one of his internet homepages to do some research on the local lakes. Lots and lots of information that you couldn’t get anywhere else

Best realtors in Novi MI

John S.

In a word, Outstanding. I would highly recommend Rus Ravary. His knowledge of lake properties is amazing and so important if you are looking for lake property. He is fast, and very efficient . He is also a very easy and amiable person to work with. He was first class throughout the entire buying process from finding our dream house , the negotiation process to the final purchase and settlement

Best real estate agents in West Bloomfield Michigan

Amanda,

Russ was wonderful with me and my parents on selling my home

Call Russ Ravary today you will be glad you did!!!! [phone]   

[russravary]

3 Safe cities near Novi -Detroit suburbs

Safe cities in Oakland County MI

Here are 3 communities that are close to Novi that you may like.  The city of Wixom, Wolverine Lake Village, and the City of Walled Lake. Walled Lake is the city that is just north of Novi.  They are three safe cities in Novi, 3 safe cities just north of I-96.  Good places to raise a family

All three of these cities are very safe.  As you know usually crime is higher in lower income, and high poverty areas.  There are no communities that are close to Novi, Wolverine Lake, Wixom, or Walled Lake that have a large percentage of poverty level residents.  The closest city that has a high level of poverty and low income residents is the city of Detroit.  All three of these cities have low crime rates, and good schools. These two factors help determine whether the community is a good place to live.  Usually when a community has good schools and low crime people want to live there.  The community’s homes are usually in higher demand than communities with higher crime rates and poorer schools.  

Usually when a home is in a community that has good schools and low crime the return on your investment (home) is good.  Home values usually rise in communities like this and Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, and Wixom are no different.  They are good stable cities to move to.

Out of the three Wolverine Lake is  the smallest.  The community is around the lake with the same name Wolverine Lake.  Wolverine Lake is a public all sports lake that is about 265 acres.

If you are looking to sell your home you will be glad to know that I have some of the lowest listing/sale real estate commissions around.  Call or text me to find out more.  I have helped so many seller’s get top dollar for their home.  Call today....you will be glad you did  248-310-6239  

Wolverine Lake Michigan

When relocating to Wolverine Lake you have to keep in mind that you are moving to a lake community.   Wolverine Lake Michigan is just a small community.  It has not central downtown or big shopping area.  It's whole focus is the lake.  It is not much different than Lake Angelus in that respect. A lake community in Oakland County is going to have a wide variety of homes.  It is not going to have similar subdivision type of homes.  The styles and sizes of homes are going to vary widely.

Why home buyers like homes in the community is because they are not too far off the beaten path.  You can get to a freeway fairly quickly.  If you have ever driven the lakes area in Oakland County you will know that you have to curve around many lakes.  Roads dead end at lakes and you have to either go right or left.  Living on Wolverine Lake will cut out some of your drive time.

The local residents' concern for the lake and the desire to maintain control of it led to the formation of the Consolidated Subdivision of Wolverine Lake. Eight separate subdivision associations joined together in the early 1940s to form a more viable and powerful political force that has helped make the community what it is today.  Of the years surrounding communities tried to incorporate or annex Wolverine Lake which finally led the residents to incorporate as a home rule Village in 1954.

Wixom MI

Wixom Michigan is a community that was known for a Ford manufacturing plant.  Along the highway is a stretch of commercial and industrial parks.  The big Ford manufacturing plant was torn down in 2013 and now it is becoming a shopping area.  There are no big commercial plants, there is more small industry in the city now.  Smaller tool and die shops, and small 1 story office buildings.  Why many home buyers relocate to Wixom is the easy access to the highway.  I-696 runs through the south side of the city.  15 Mile Road/Maple Road and Grand River also make getting to and from the city a little easier.

Does Wixom have a central downtown?  As one of my guys in the Army used to say "kinda, sorta, but not really".  A few years back they re-routed some of the road and revamped some buildings in the area you could call downtown.  There is no true old historic area that is 3 or 4 blocks long.  There are some restaurants and a few stores, but nothing to speak of.  To find an old time downtown you would have to go to nearby Milford, Northville, or Farmington Hills.  If you are looking for shopping then Novi is the place you will head for.  In less than 5 minutes you can be to the 12 Oaks shopping area.  A large mall with many smaller open shopping centers/malls nearby.  You will find lots of restaurants, and a large modern newer hospital in Novi too.  Providence Hospital is probably less than 15 years old.  So yes there is not a lot of shopping right in city, but there is so much real close by.

Is Wixom MI safe?

Absolutely.  Wixom is a very safe community to live in.  The crime rates are very low.  To get to the airport or downtown Detroit is about a 40 minute ride.  You are not in the closest city to the airport, but you are along a major route.  There is one small private all sports lake in the city.  Loon Lake is just a small lake that is surrounded by homes.  Older homes on the south side and newer brick colonials on the North side. It is that way throughout the city.  Old areas and newer subdivisions with modern homes.  It is not an expensive high end community.  By that I mean you are not going to find any or many homes over $500,000 (in 2014) and definitely it is not a city to find million dollar homes.  So if you are moving to Wixom you will be moving to a middle class to upper middle class community.  You will both white collar and blue collar workers living in the city.

Not to far from the city is Proud Lake state recreation area and Kensington Metro Park.  Whether you want to hike, swim, kayak, or horseback ride you have the park land to enjoy Michigan's great outdoors within a short drive.  Movie theaters, and other entertainment venues are close too.

Walled Lake Michigan

If you are thinking of relocating to Walled Lake you are probably thinking what are the reasons why I should move here.  Walled Lake Michigan is a community that came about because of the lake it is named after.  It is definitely a lake community in many respects.  So if you want a public beach on a lake close by for you and your family to go to this may be a city to go to.  Remember though that this is a private lake so only property owners on the lake can put a boat in.  There are only a few other access points for a few residents in subdivisions to put a boat in.

Another point that many home buyers like is that it is just North of Novi MI and it is just a very short ride to I-96 or M-5.  The mega shopping area of 12 Oaks Malls and the surrounding strip malls is a 5-10 minute ride.  It is about a 45 minute ride into downtown Detroit, or a 45 minute ride to our main airport Metro Airport.  Commerce Township is to the east, Novi to the south, and the City of Wixom is to the west of the city.

The city is just a small city covering a total area of 2.37 square miles.  As of the 2010 census there were 6,999 people accounted for, 3,347 households, and 1,771 families residing in the Walled Lake MI.  So the city has a small town atmosphere with all the big city perks right down the road in Novi.  There is a small downtown area, but not the type of downtown area that draws people in from around the city.  There is a good bakery and several good restaurants in the downtown area.  They even have one restaurant called the Bay side on the water.

Demographics

Here are some of the demographics of the community.  As of the 2010 census the racial makeup of the city was 88.7% White, 4.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.  Like many of the metro Detroit communities Walled Lake MI is a safe community.  You are not going to have gangs roaming the street threatening people, or be afraid to take a walk because a drive by may happen.  Those things do not happen here.  You will have lower car and property insurance than if you lived in the City of Detroit because the crime rates are so much lower.  Yes there is occasional crime here like most cities across Americas, but it is going to be more vandalism, or the once in a while domestic dispute.

History

The lake's and city's name came from an early settler that saw a wall of stones that was probably built by a early Indian tribe and named the lake "Walled Lake".  The city was also part of the Underground Railroad, where runaway slaves could sleep and eat, were called "depots".  The Foster Farmhouse that was originally built in 1833.  The city has preserved this part of the underground railroad.  The Foster Farmhouse was located on Pontiac Trail near 15 mile road until 1997, when it was moved to Riley Park in downtown Walled Lake.

Schools

Children that live in the city will go to Walled Lake schools which is a good local school system.  There are quite a few good private schools nearby like Detroit Catholic Central in Novi.  Madonna University, Oakland Community College, Lawrence Technological University, and University of Michigan are some of the nearby colleges.

Real estate

Of course if you are relocating to Walled Lake you probably want to know what the homes and real estate is like.  Like so many of Oakland County Lake communities you are going to find small lake cottages that are now year round homes.  Some of them will be small as 700 square feet.  Walled Lake homes are not going to be mega mansions.  Yes there are some larger homes that sit on the lake but I would say most of Walled Lake Michigan's homes are going to be modest homes under the 2000 square foot range.  You are going to find brick ranches, split levels, and smaller colonials in subdivisions in the city.  You are just not going to find subdivisions of newer 2500 -4000+ square foot homes in the city.

Best real estate agents in Walled Lake MI

If hope you enjoyed this short article on 3 safe cities near Novi in the Detroit suburbs.  These three cities are some of the safest cities in Oakland County MI.  If you are looking to buy a home in Metro Detroit and Oakland County is a place you would like to move to....give me a call.  My cell is 248-310-6239   You will be glad you did!  Also ask about my great home buyer program.

[russravary]

Top Livingston County All sports lakes

Many lake home buyers in Livingston County want an all sports lake.  You have to think of this in simple terms.  An all sports lake in Livingston County Michigan allows about any type of boat on the lake.  Any size motor, any length, any style, motorized or non motorized, one person or a fourteen person boat.  It is almost anything goes in terms of boats and personal water craft.  That is what an all sports lake allows in terms of boating.  Usually you can tow anybody behind the boat whether you are tubing, water skiing, knee boarding, wake boarding, and surfing.

I am going to give you a list of some of the all sports lake in Livingston County.  I do not have all of them yet but I will keep adding more as I do the research and a webpage on them.  There are two chains of lakes in Livingston County.  What is nice about the all sports lakes  in Livingston County is that there is two chains of lakes with more than 6 lakes on them.  Many of the lakes on the Huron River Chain of lakes are all sports lakes.  It is the same way with the Half Moon/ HiLand Chain of lakes.

There are about 131 named lakes in Livingston County.  As one of Livingston County's best lake realtors I have seen hundreds of buyer express what they want in an all sports lakes.  Many lake home buyers that are looking for an all sports lake say they want an all sports lake that is over 200 acres.  They want a bigger lake to do their boating, tubing, water skiing, surfing, knee boarding, or wake boarding on.  They want to do longer straighter runs.

I believe that any lake over 130 acres is big enough to do a lot of water sports on.  You can do water sports on lakes as small as 60 or 70  acres however you are going to be going around in a smaller circle.  Some water sports enthusiasts want room to do some curves to put a little excitement for the kids.  You need a bigger lake than a 60 or 70 acre lake.  There are some lakes that call themselves all sports lakes that are as small as 25 acres but you really cannot do anything on a lake that small.  I don't even know if you have enough room to pull a skier out of the water and have the boat plane off before you had to turn.  Basically anything over 125 -150 acres you will have plenty of room to run your jet ski or to do any water sports you want.

Most lakes in Livingston County are going to busy on nice weekends or on holiday.  Most lakes will be quieter during the week.  I always have my grandkids come out during the week because the lake is smoother and there is very litte boat traffic.  It is so much safer if they fall off the tube, or go down when skiing.  The Huron River chain of lakes can be quite busy on Saturday and Sunday.  The lakes on the chains can be very wavy and choppy making it so much harder to ski, kneeboard, or wakeboard.

Big Portage Lake in Pinckney Michigan                644 acres

Lake Chemung in Howell MI                                 310 acres

Woodland Lake in Brighton MI                             309 acres

Strawberry Lake in Hamburg MI                          257 acres

Base Line Lake in Hamburg MI                             254 acres

East Crooked Lake in Brighton MI                       252 acres

Thompson Lake in Howell MI                               252 acres

Halfmoon Lake in Dexter MI                                236 acres

Ore Lake in Hamburg Michigan                            192 acres

Runyan Lake in Tyrone Township MI                   180 acres

West Crooked Lake in Brighton MI                       176 acres

Zukey Lake in Hamburg Michigan                         155 acres

Silver Lake in Dexter MI                                       152 acres

Brighton Lake in Brighton MI                               150 acres

Long Lake in Hartland MI                                     146 acres

Island Lake in Brighton MI                                    140 acres

Rush Lake Hamburg MI                                          138 acres or 100 depending on which source you beleive

Fonda Lake in Brighton MI                                      83 acres

School Lake in Brighton MI                                      79 acres

Gallagher Lake in Hamburg MI                                76 acres

Whitewood Lake in Hamburg MI                             62 acres West basin 40 acres East basin 22 acres

Earl Lake in Howell MI                                            37 acres

Why pay too much to some real estate agent?  When you sell your home..... keep more of your money and your homes profits by hiring a great realtor with a low commission rate.  Save thousands and thousands of dollars on your real estate commission.  Call Russ today to see how much you can save when listing your home  248-310-6239

Usually lake homes on big all sports lakes in Livingston County fetch higher prices per square foot.  It is the same way with any lake home in south east Michigan.  All sports lake homes usually have higher price per square foot than non all sports lakes.  There is always a demand to be on a popular lake and the homes and lakes on Huron River chain of lakes are in high demand.

I hope this gives you an idea of the sizes and what to expect when looking for a lake home on an all sports lake in Livingston County.  I really know the local lakes and can help make your next move easier.

 Call or text me today at 248-310-6239

You will be glad you did!

[russravary]

Lakes near Fenton Michigan

Fenton has changed from years ago.  You may think is a sleepy little town out in the country.  Boy has it changed!  There are so many great restaurants now.  There are big box stores and lots of shopping in the Fenton area.  You have lots of choices for shopping, eating out, coffee shops, and getting all your basic necessities.  You know longer have to drive to Brighton or Flint to get everything you need.  

What is great is that there are many beautiful lakes near Fenton.  When you buy a lakefront home in the Fenton area you have everything you need within a few miles.  Here are a few of the best lakes in Genessee County Michigan.

Byram Lake Fenton MI    132 acres     public     all sports lake     50 feet deep Byram Lake is a spring fed kettle lake that was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.  The lake was named after early settlers that lived on it's shores.  There is a Byram Lake Association for the home owners.  The shoreline is about 2.443 miles in length.  It is more of a long lake than a round lake.

Lake Fenton Fenton MI    845 acres     public     all sports lake     95 feet deep Lake Fenton is a public all sports lake that is about 845 acres in size.  It is a big spring fed lake with 18 acres of islands including Cases's Island and it has a State of Michigan DNR boat launch.  Lake Fenton is a spring-fed “kettle lake,” meaning it was formed after a glacier melted thousands of years ago. Many of Michigan's inland lakes are kettle lakes,  though in South East Michigan you will find some man made lakes.  Fenton Township's Mantawauka Park is open to the public and includes a gazebo, picnic tables, playscape and swimming beach on Lake Fenton. It is located behind the Fenton Township Civic Community Center located at 12060 Mantawauka Drive, Fenton, MI 48430.

There is about 15 miles of shoreline.  The lake is 95-feet deep at the lowest point, and on average, 21 feet. It is  the largest lake in Genessee County at 845 acres. Years ago Lake Fenton used to be called Long Lake, (it is about 3 miles long from one end to the other), as it stretches from North Long Lake Road to South Long Lake Road.

Skipper Buds Marina is on Lake Fenton at 14016 Fenton Road in Fenton, MI 48430.  They rent dock space but I do not believe they have gas.  I am unsure if there is a state approved water ski course.   The streets around the lake are paved.  There are a few canals on the lake.  The children on the lake go to Fenton schools or Lake Fenton schools.

Lake Ponemah Fenton MI    379 acres     public     all sports lake    77 feet deep Lake Ponemah is a public all sports lake that is 379 acres in size.  The deepest spot on the lake is about 77 feet deep.  This information comes from a state map.  According to the state map the contour of the lake is about 4.67 miles long.  The mean depth of the lake is 23 feet.  There is no public beach.  There is a State of Michigan public DNR launch off of North Road off Torrey Road.  It has 35 parking spots for vehicles and boat trailers.                The streets around the lake are paved.  I do not know if there is a state approved water ski course.  The children on the lake go to Fenton Schools or Lake Fenton depending on where you live.  There is a marina on lake that is called Lake Ponemah Marina.  It is on the south side of the lake of Silver Lake Road. Lake Ponemah is both spring fed and fed by the Shiawassee River.  There are several canals on the lake that have about a hundred homes on them.                                    

Lake Ponemah connects to two other lakes, Squaw Lake and Tupper Lake, and the Shiawassee River runs through the lake. There are two decent size islands on the lake that are uninhabited.  Ponemah connects to Tupper and Squaw Lake and the lake association is called PST after the first initials of each lake. PST is very involved and they do many events and parties all year long. It is a natural kettle lake that is spring fed and fed by the Shiawassee River.  Lake Ponemah has a sand bar near the DNR lake access that lake lovers frequently gather on to play water volley ball and to hang out with other lake residents.

Lobdell Lake Linden Mi      545 acres     public     all sports lake   78 feet deep Lobdell Lake is a big lake with a lot of shoreline so there are many home sites.  I am guessing there are about 700 parcels on the lake from the research I have done.  The majority of the parcels have homes on them.  Like most of the lakes in Genessee County and in South East Michigan it is rare to find a buildable lake lot any more.    There are not going to be as many of the huge lake estates that you will find on Lake Fenton, or Silver Lake on Lobdell Lake.  On some parts of Lobdell Lake the homes will be closer together.  Lobdell  Lake, the 2nd largest in the Fenton/Linden area.  It is a public all sports lake that is about 545 acres in size.  There are no wake restrictions that I know of.  The deepest spot in the lake is 78 feet deep.  Most of the lake is fairly shallow (under 10') from what I see on the DNR map.  The school district for the lake is Linden Schools.  There is a public access through a a DNR boat launch off Argentine Road.  There is no public beach, nor is there a marina on the lake. The streets around the lake are mainly paved though there is at least one road that is gravel.  The lake is spring fed.  There are many bays on the lake and there is one canal.  There are no condos on the lake.  I do not know if there is a water ski course on Lobdell Lake.        Lobell Lake has many contours.  There are many fingers, islands, and bays   Lobdell Lake is connected to Bennett Lake by the north-south channel under Bennett Lake Rd. From there you can get to Hoisington Lake from Bennett Lake.    A few added benefits of the lake is the bar and market that you can get to by boat.  When you go under the bridge from Lobdell lake into Bennet lake, Snappers on the water is on the left-hand side.  Having a bar on a lake is great because if you decide that you do not want to cook you just drive the boat up to the restaurant.

Marl Lake Fenton MI             76 acres     private    all sports lake   36 feet deep  Marl Lake is a private all sports lake that is about 75 acres in size.  It does have wake restrictions in the canal going to Silver Lake.  The mean depth of the lake is about 10.8 feet.  Marl Lake deepest spot is 36 feet deep.  There is no public beach or marine on the lake but there is one on Silver Lake.  There is no DNR boat launch on Silver Lake or Marl Lake. It is not a big lake but the lake lies on the border of Livington County and Genessee County.  About a 1/3 of the southern part of the lake lies in Livingston County.  The lake also lies in three different communities.  They are Fenton, Fenton Township, and Tyrone Townshi. There is no state approved water ski course on the lakes that I know of.  The lake is spring fed.  The streets around the lake are all paved.  Depending on where you live the school district for the lake is either Linden and Fenton Schools.  There are a couple of canals on the lake.   Marl Lake connects to Silver Lake via a culvert under Owens Rod.  There is a one acre island at the north end of the lake.  There is one association for both Silver and Marl Lake.  It is an active lake association that puts on a fishing tournament music on the lake.

Pine Lake Fenton MI          132 acres     private    non all sports lake   29 feet deep Pine Lake is a private non all sports lake.  You cannot tow anybody behind your boat nor can you speed around the lake.  It is about 132 acres in size with the max depth of 29 feet in the south east basin.  The northwest basin has another deep hole of 19 feet deep.   The average depth on the lake is about 8 feet deep.  They tried to change Pine Lake from a non all sports lake to an all sports lake back in 2007, but there was not enough support from the lake residents to change the laws and regulation.  It still is a non all sports lake.  The law actually states  "that you cannot operate such motorboat at high speed, which means a speed at or above which a motorboat reaches a planing condition".  Nor can you tow anybody tubing or waterskiing.  However it does not say anything about a jet ski.  So it is not limiting boating (just at high speeds).....it's not a total non all sports lake.  There is no marina on the lake, no water ski course, and no condominiums on the lake.  There is no city park or public beach on the lake.  There are no canals on the lake but there is one peninsula that sticks out into the lake that divides the lake into a north and south basin.

Silver Lake Fenton MI        310 acres   private    all sports lake     64 deep Silver Lake is a kettle lake formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.  It is a great lake not too far from downtown Fenton  There is a single inlet from Marl Lake on the south end and an outlet that discharges into Lake Ponemah on the north end. There is a 62 foot deep basin at the south end of the lake. Lake access to Silver Lake is at one of the two marinas, Silver Spray Sports and White’s Landing, both off Silver Lake Road.  There is also a public beach at Silver Lake Park.  It is a nice public beach in Fenton.  I believe you can get to Marl Lake from Silver Lake but I do not know what size of boat can get through the culvert under Owen Road.

The park was developed in 1974. It is located at 16100 Jennings Road off of Silver Parkway.  You can watch the fireworks from the park, but be prepared it is going to be crowded.

I hope this helps you find the top Genessee County Lakes.

Looking for your dream lake home in Genessee County, Livingston County, or Oakland County or on a lake near Fenton MI give me a call.  I know the lakes and can save you lots of time and energy.  Plus I am a good negotiator that will keep more of your money in your pocket.  Call me on my cell today at 248-310-6239

#Fentonarealakes #genesseecountymilakes #lakesingenesseecountymi #bestlakesnearfentonmi #bestlakesnearfentonmi #biglakesnearfentonmi #allsportslakesnearfentonmi #bigallsportslakesnearfentonmi #privatelakesnearfentonmi #whichlakesareniceingenesseecountymi #lakesnearfentonmi #FentonMIarealakes  

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Big lakes in Livingston County MI

Baseline Lake in Hamburg Michigan

Baseline Lake is the third largest lake on the chain of lakes.  Nine lakes in total that are connected by the Huron River and wide channels.  It is a public all sports lake that is 254 acres in size.  It is a public lake like all the lakes on the Huron River chain of lakes because there is a DNR public launch on Portage Lake.  If you can get on Portage Lake you can boat to Base Line Lake.  There are no wake restrictions on the lake.  There are some no wake zones on the river between the lakes.

There is no public beach, no marina on the lake, and no state approved water ski course on the lake that I know of.  Depending on where you live on the lake your children will go to Dexter or Pinckney.  The streets around the lake are either paved or gravel.

Base Line Lake is part of the Hamburg chain of Lakes or as some people call it the Portage Chain of Lakes.  It is the last lake right before Portage Lake.  There is one sunken island on the lake where it gets about 5' deep.  Baseline Lake is a big round lake.  There are a couple of deep holes on Base Line Lake of 64' and 54'.  University of Michigan has a sail club on the lake at 8010 Strawberry Lake Rd for students.  U of M sail club

The lake is fed by the Huron River from the north (Whitewood Lake is to the north).  What is great about the chain of lakes it that it is a boater's paradise no matter what you do with a boat.  For a pontoon person you could take a whole day exploring the shoreline and looking at all the home with your guests.  For water skiers, jet skiers, and wakeboarders there is Portage Lake, Baseline Lake, or Strawberry Lake with lots of room and lots of width to enjoy those activities.

Fisherman have lots of drop off's, and weed beds to fish on the many different lakes on the whole Portage chain of lakes.  Kids on the lake either go to Pinckney or Dexter schools depending on where they live on the lake. There are not a lot of wide open spaces or privacy on Baseline Lake.

Big Portage Lake in Pinckney Michigan

Big Portage is the biggest lake on the Huron River Chain of lakes.  It is a public all sports lake that is about 664 acres in size.  The DNR boat launch is located off McGregor Road on the east side of the lake.  It has about 21 parking spots for the public.  There is no public beach, no water ski course on the lake.   There are no wake restrictions that I know of The deepest point on the lake is about 84 feet deep though they say the average depth is only five feet deep.  There are some shallow sandbar areas on the lake.

The lake is mainly fed by the Huron River though there are two streams that come into the lake from the north.  They are Honey Creek and Portage Creek.  There are canals on the lake but I do not know of any islands on the lake.  The school district for the lake is either Dexter schools, Pinckney school system depending on where they live on the lake.  The streets around the lake are either paved, gravel.

Portage Lake is the biggest lake on the Hamburg chain of lakes .  The chain of Lakes is called several names including the Huron River chain of lakes or the Portage Chain of Lakes.  It is a public lake, you can get on the lake via a State of Michigan DNR Boat Launch that is located off McGregor Road on the east side of the road.  Lake level was erratic prior to 1960.  Spring flooding on Portage Lake was frequent. Often lakefront residents would row or paddle right up to their cottages at lake level; septic systems didn't respond well either. After several dry years in the early 60s, lake levels were extremely low, and by 1963, boats and docks were suddenly left high and dry. This was the impetus that led to constructing the dam.

The eight main lakes on the chain can be accessed by most boats, with only Ore Lake accessible only by small boat. Some areas on the chain and river cannot be accessed by pontoon due to low under-road clearances or narrow passages.

Ore Lake Hamburg Michigan

Ore Lake is a private all sports lake that is about 192 acres.  The lake is 89 feet deep at the deepest point.  Ore Lake is part of a chain of lakes, although you cannot drive big boats to the other lakes.  It is connected via the Huron River but there is a low bridge under M-36 that you can't get a big boat under.   You can only get a small kayak or canoe or small boats through to Ore Lake.  You can get from the Huron River on the other side of the bridge to Strawberry Lake.  Ore Lake's water source is the Huron River, springs, and a couple of streams.

There is no public DNR launch on Ore Lake.  There is no public beach or marina on the lake.  The children on the lake go to Brighton Schools.  The streets around the lake are gravel.  There is no state approved ski course on the lake that I know of.  There are no wake restrictions on the lake.  There are no canals on Ore Lake except for the canal going to the Huron River.

My guess is that on the weekend there is heavy boat traffic on the lake.  But there is always smooth water on any Southeastern Michigan Lake is you are up early enough ( before 10 or wait until dinner time).

Save thousands and thousands of dollars when selling your home whether it is on e the lake or off.  I have some of the lowest home selling commissions.  Why pay full commission to a real estate agent and give away your hard earned money.  Are you willing  to over pay for selling your home?  Give me a text or call today 248-310-6239 to see how much your home is worth and how much you can keep in your pocket.

Strawberry Lake in Hamburg MI

Strawberry Lake in Hamburg is a public all sports lake that is about 257 acres in size.  It is a kettle lake that was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.  It is about 50 feet deep in the deepest spot.  There is no public access on the lake itself but the Huron River chain of lakes is all public because there is a DNR Launch off McGregor Road on Big Portage Lake.

There are no wake restrictions or laws on when you can go fast on the lake.  Though some of the river channels between the lakes are no wake.  The lake is fed by springs and the Huron River that flows through it.  The children that live on the lake go to Pinckney School System.  The streets around Strawberry Lake are both paved and gravel.

There is no public beach on the lake, there are no canals, (thus no canal front homes) and I do not believe that there is a state approved ski course on the lake.

Are you thinking of buying a lakefront home in Oakland County?   Then you have come to the right website.  We have the latest waterfront listing here.   If you are exploring the possibility of living on the lake, I have to emphasize that lake homes will cost you more than a home in a subdivision.  There is a premium for a lake.  The bigger the lake the more expensive the lakefront property will be.  The more desirable the city will add to the cost.

Woodland Lake in Brighton MI

Woodland Lake is not part of the chain of lakes.  The lake is located right by the exit ramps of U-23 at Grand River in Brighton.  You are very close to downtown Brighton and all the shopping.  There are still some small lake cottages/homes still on the lake.  Woodland Lake homes range in size from 572 square feet to over 4100 square feet.  Most of the homes were built between the years 1930's to present.  You can just about find any style of home.  From the small older ranches to big beautiful newer brick colonials.  You also have contemporary homes, split level homes, and cape cod homes.   I did not see any bungalow homes in the mix of homes that have sold in the last ten years.

The waterfront homes have anywhere from two bedrooms to seven bedrooms.  They have one to four and a half bathrooms.  Many of the homes sit at lake level and cannot have basements so they may be on slabs or crawl spaces.  The newer homes have basements and some are walkouts. What Woodland Lake homes have in terms of garages varies too.  Some have no garages all the way up to four car garages. There is even one home that has a six car garage.

All the homes have wells.  It depends on where you live on the lake whether you have a septic system or hooked up to sewers.  Some homes sit on lots over an acre but most of the homes are fairly close together.

Woodland Lake in Brighton Mi is a public all sports lake.  It lies entirely in Brighton. There is a DNR public launch off Hilton Rd that has parking spaces for 26 vehicles.  You do need a state permit to access the launch site.  There is also a place to rent a dock along Hilton Rd.  The size of Woodland Lake is about 309 acres.  The deepest spot on the lake is 38 feet deep.  It has a mean depth of 7.61 ft.  The water clarity is good you can see down 6 to 8 ft.

There is no public beach, no state approved ski course, no marina, no condominiums on the lake.  The streets around the lake are paved.  There are a few canals on the lake.  The school districts for the lake are Howell and Brighton depending on where you live on the lake.  Both school districts are very good.

There are six islands on the lake and one is public.  The shoreline is about 41,943 feet long.  The lake is fed by Ore Creek and two small unnamed streams.  Also spring fed.  There are no wake restrictions in terms of when you can speed on the lake.  There are some areas that are no wake.

Woodland Lake is a "L" shaped lake with lots of small coves and bays.  It the type of lake that I like because when you turn the corner there is more lake to see.

If you have made the decision to move to a lake give me a call.  Not only do I buy you a kayak or another gift up to $500 but I know how to negotiate and help you get the home you want.  Call me today to get started my cell is 248-310-6239

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Best real estate agents in Oakland County MI

Schools in Beverly Hills Michigan

The next important factor for many job transferee's is school systems.  The Village of Beverly Hills is a part of the Birmingham Public School District. This school district is continuously ranked as one of the best in the nation.  Not just one of the top in the state, but one of the best in the nation.  I would classify it as one of the top 20 school systems in Southeastern Michigan.   Beverly Elementary and Greenfield Elementary have won nation honors in 2008-2009. Beverly Hills offers a variety of housing options to fit everyone’s needs in life. Neighborhoods range from the modest to luxurious, ranches to colonials; from apartments to 5,000 square feet estates. The village of Beverly Hills has it all, Safety, neighborliness, serenity, and a wonderful sense of community. This is what makes Beverly Hills such a great place to relocate to and live, especially with your children right by your side.

Best real estate agents Beverly Hills MI

How safe is Commerce Twp?

If you are relocating to Oakland County Commerce will be a great community if you are looking for a lake home closer to Metro Detroit.  It does have all the necessities nearby, and the added bonus of lake life.  Many of the local lakes have public access, though there are many that are private too.  To the north in White Lake you will find a State Park with a beach.  That is another great plus of living in Commerce.  Proud Lake State recreation area covers miles of Commerce Township.  You can canoe, kayak the Huron River.  Take your dog for walks or hike for miles in the state park.  There is even a horseback trail in the park.

Top Commerce MI real estate agents

In Milford No matter the time of year you will find the sidewalks downtown full of people.  They have many events to draw other nearby residents to Milford.  Milford Village is only about 2.5 square miles.  It is not a large area in southwest Oakland County and is easily accessed from the I-96 freeway.  M-59 is just north of the city, but most residents head to I-96 to get to metro Detroit.  The village has a population of approximately 6,280 according to the 2010 census.   There are an additional 15,271 people in the township.  The Village of Milford boasts six parks within its boundaries. Central Park is a scenic park, located on the banks of the Huron River, is a favorite with the children and teens who enjoy the playscape, basketball courts, tennis court, volleyball court, and ice rink. Fairgrounds Park is adjacent to the Senior Center for easy access to a picnic area and shuffleboard courts.  It is a great place to watch  the ducks and geese too.  Being not too far from the business district.  Hubbell Pond Park is the site of the YMCA and Library, and a trail system that runs from Commerce Road all the way to Kensington Park on South Milford Road.

Are you looking for a top Milford MI real estate agent that is experienced and full time.

Schools

Schools have always been a top priority when I have helped clients relocated to Novi MI.  Your children will go to one of these four public school districts including Novi Community Schools, Northville Public Schools, South Lyon Community Schools, and Walled Lake Consolidated School District.   The majority of the students go to Novi schools.  It depends on where you live.  I will be able to tell you as we are looking at homes or viewing them on line.  If you live north of I-96 your children will go to Walled Lake schools which is a very good school district too.    Novi has an award winning, nationally recognized school district.  The City of Novi public school system has been awarded with one of Michigan's highest levels of academic achievement, being rated as a Gold Medal School District (by Expansion Management).All Novi Community Schools, including five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, are in the city limits. The Hickory Woods and Meadowbrook elementary schools from Walled Lake district are in the city limits. Thornton Creek Elementary from Northville schools is in the city limits.

Best real estate agents in Novi MI

Waterford home values  have gone up by 23.7% over the past year and Zillow predicts that it will rise again, another 6% within the next calendar year. You are going to find homes ranging from 1000 square feet to about 2500 square feet on the average in Waterford.  The average price per square foot is $102, which is lower than the Detroit average of $103. You are going to find that housing prices  in Waterford Michigan are reasonable.  The price range of homes you can find in Waterford are between $75,000 and $1,000,000.  The million dollar homes are going to be lakefront homes in Waterford.  You will not be finding a luxury estate home off the lake in Waterford.  If you are looking to rent a home in Waterford the average price for a rental home is going to be $800 to $1000, which is once again lower than the Detroit metro average.    Most of the land in Waterford is used for residential purposes.  It is an urban community with very little  farmland.

Best real estate agents in Waterford MI

Of course if you are relocating to Walled Lake you probably want to know what the homes and real estate is like.  Like so many of Oakland County Lake communities you are going to find small lake cottages that are now year round homes.  Some of them will be small as 700 square feet.  Walled Lake homes are not going to be mega mansions.  Yes there are some larger homes that sit on the lake but I would say most of Walled Lake Michigan's homes are going to be modest homes under the 2000 square foot range.  You are going to find brick ranches, split levels, and smaller colonials in subdivisions in the city.  You are just not going to find subdivisions of newer 2500 -4000+ square foot homes in the city.

Best real estate agents in Walled Lake MI

The school districts that serve the town include the West Bloomfield School District, Waterford School District, Farmington Hills School District, Birmingham City School District, Pontiac School District, Walled Lake Consolidated School District, and the Bloomfield Hills School District. These are all great school districts except Pontiac school district, they are all known for high test scores on the MEAP, SAT and ACT’s along with athletics as well.  

Top Real Estate agents in West Bloomfield MI

You will like that West Bloomfield has a large newer hospital on Fifteen Rd.

You will not be lacking for doctors, dentist, or veterinarians when you relocate to West Bloomfield.  That is always another concern for Oakland County relocation buyers.  Does the city have the stores, banks and conveniences that I am used too?

West Bloomfield is filled with high-end boutique stores, big box stores and delicious restaurants that are worth taking a visit to. Each side of Orchard Lake Road is flanked with several and tons of long strip malls and shopping complexes.

Call me if you are looking for a good real estate agent for your next move.  Call and ask me about my low home selling commission rate or my home buyer bonus programs.  You will save money!  248-310-6239   You will be glad you did! 

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Livingston County Lakes

There are at least 125 lakes in Livingston County Michigan.  You have every type of lake possible in the county.  You have big Lakes like Big Portage Lake and little pond like lakes too.  You have all sports lakes like Half Moon Lake and non all sports lakes.  You have private lakes like Brighton Lake and public lakes. 

Why pay too much to some real estate agent?  When you sell your home..... keep more of your money and your homes profits by hiring a great realtor with a low commission rate.  Save thousands and thousands of dollars on your real estate commission.  Call Russ today to see how much you can save when listing your home  248-310-6239

Big Portage Lake in Pinckney Michigan

All sports lake                                 Yes

Private                                            No

Size                                                644 acres

Maximum Depth                              84 feet deep

Public Access                                   Yes Michigan DNR access

Parking spaces at DNR                      21 spots

Public Beach                                    No

Wake restrictions                              None that I know of

Water Source                                   Huron River

Cities the lake lies in                        Hamburg, Dexter, Putnam Twp

School district for the lake                 Dexter, Pinckney

Streets around the lake are               Paved,

City water                                        Well

City sewer                                        Mostly Sewers but a few on septic

Canals on Lake                                  yes

Lots over an acre on lake                   yes

Water-ski course                               ???

Condominiums                                  no

Earl Lake in Howell MI

Earl Lake size                      36 acres

All sports lake                        Yes

Wake restrictions                    No  

Deepest spot                          40 feet      

Average Depth                        ????                

Public access                          No

No# of parking spots               None

Public Beach                           No

Marina on lake                        No

Shoreline                                

Named                                  

Water Source                          Spring fed and from Thompson Lake

Cities the lake lies in                Oceola Township            

School district for the lake        Howell            

Streets around the lake are      Paved            

City water                               Some Well some muncipal water            

City sewer                               Mostly Sewer & a few homes are still on septic            

Canals on Lake                        1 that connect to small bay            

Lots over an acre on lake          Yes    One is over 2 acres and one is about 16 acres        

Water-ski course                      No            

Condominiums                         No        

Fonda Lake in Brighton MI

All sports lake                     Yes

Private                                 Yes

Size                                      83 acres

Maximum Depth                  39 feet

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                       Spring Fed

Cities the lake lies in                      Brighton, Green Oak

School district for the lake             Brighton

Streets around the lake are             paved & gravel

City water                                       City Water 

City sewer                                       Sewer

Canals on Lake                               no

Lots over an acre on lake                yes

Water-ski course                              n/a

Condominiums                                n/a

Island Lake in Brighton MI

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                 No

Size                                     140 acres

Maximum Depth                   35

Public Access                        Yes Island Lake State Park

Wake restrictions                  Unknown

Water Source                       Fed from Fonda

Cities the lake lies in                         Green Oak Twp. 

School district for the lake                 Brighton

Streets around the lake are               paved

City water                                        Well

City sewer                                        Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                                  no

Lots over an acre on lake                   no

Water-ski course                               n/a

Condominiums                                  yes

Ore Lake in Hamburg Michigan

Cities the lake lies in                        Hamburg

School district for the lake               Brighton

Streets around the lake are               Gravel

City water                                         Well

City sewer                                         Sewer sanitary, septic

Canals on Lake                                  no

Lots over an acre on lake                   yes

Water-ski course                                 n/a

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  Yes

Size                                      192 acres

Maximum Depth                   89 feet deep

Public Access                       Yes

Public Beach                        no

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                      Huron River

Strawberry Lake in Hamburg MI

All sports lake                     Yes

Private                                 Not really

Size                                      257 acres

Maximum Depth                 50 feet

Public Access                      is on Big Portage Lake

Public Beach                       No

Wake restrictions                Unknown

Water Source                      Unknown

Cities the lake lies in                        Hamburg

School district for the lake                Pinckney

Streets around the lake are               Gravel, paved

City water                                         Well

City sewer                                         Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                                  no

Lots over an acre on lake                   no

Water-ski course                                 n/a

Condominiums                                   no

Whitewood Lake in Hamburg MI

Whitewood Lake size          East Basin 22 acres / West Basin 40 acres

All sports lake                        Yes  too small to ski or really tube on

Wake restrictions                    None that I know of  

Deepest spot                          East Basin 25 feet deep / West Basin 50 feet deep      

Mean Depth                           East Basin 14.9 feet / West Basin 26 feet                

Public access                         None on the lake but one on Big Portage Lake

No# of parking spots              None

Public Beach                          No

Marina on lake                       No

Shoreline                               12,299 feet  

Named                                  

Water Source                         Huron River, Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in               Hamburg            

School district for the lake       Pinckney            

Streets around the lake are     Paved, gravel            

City water                              Well            

City sewer                              Sewer            

Canals on Lake                       Yes several or you could call them small bays          

Lots over an acre on lake        Yes  A few          

Water-ski course                     No            

Condominiums                        No      

Woodland Lake in Brighton MI

All Sports                         Yes

Size                                   309 acres surface area

Deepest point                    38 ft

Mean Depth                      7.61 ft

Water Clarity                     You can see down 6 to 8 ft

Public Beach                      No

Public Access                    Yes located of Hilton Rd  permit required

Public Access Parking        26 vehicles

Islands                               6 islands (one is public)

Shore Line                         41,943 feet long

Wake Restrictions              None that I know of      

Water Source                     fed by Ore Creek and two unnamed streams

Cities the lake lies in                        Brighton

School district for the lake               Howell, Brighton

Streets around the lake are               Paved

City water                                         Well

City sewer                                         Septic, sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                                  no

Lots over an acre on lake                   yes

Water-ski course                                 n/a

condominiums                                    no

Woodland Lake homes Livingston County

Zukey Lake in Hamburg Michigan

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  No -connect to chain of lakes which has DNR lake access

Size                                      155 acres

Maximum Depth                   35 feet

Public Access                      Yes

Public Beach                       No

Wake restrictions                Unknown

Water Source                      Huron River

Cities the lake lies in                        Hamburg

School district for the lake               Pinckney

Streets around the lake are               Paved

City water                                         Well

City sewer                                         Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                                  yes

Lots over an acre on lake                   yes

Water-ski course                                 n/a

Condominiums                                  no 

If you are looking to by a lake home hire SE Michigan lake specialist.  I know the local lakes and can save you time, energy,  and money when buying your next home.  My negotiating skills will save you money.  Call or text Russ at 248-310-6239

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4 best cities in Wayne County Michigan

What are the safest cities in Wayne County?  Add in schools and you will ask what are the safest cities in Wayne County MI with good schools. Moving to any state for a job can be stressful and moving to Michigan is no different.  You may not know what the Metro Detroit area is like or what the safest cities near  downtown Detroit are.  The two major concerns for most Michigan relocation clients are "how is the crime / is the city safe" and "how are the schools?" 

When moving to the suburbs of Detroit you may want to know the better cities that lie west of downtown Detroit.  You may be going to work at Ford Motor Company or you may work at metro Airport.  You may work downtown and want an easy drive down I-96.  Your spouse may work in the opposite direction in Ann Arbor and you may want to split the driving time for both of you.  So living west of downtown Detroit may be your best choice rather than living in the northern counties.

When I say the four best cities near Detroit in the western suburb of Detroit I mean cities that have low crime, good schools, and that are desirable cities to live in.  Usually when you buy a home in a community that has low crime and good schools the housing prices are stable or rising.  That means when it is time for you to sell your home in the future you should be able to get more for the home. 

Here are four of the best cities in the western suburbs of Detroit.

Canton Township MI

City of Livonia Michigan

City of Plymouth Mi & Plymouth Township MI

City of Northville Michigan & Northville Township MI

All of these cities are centrally located along the I-275 corridor and I-96 is not too far.  I-275 runs north south about 20 minutes west of Detroit.  I-96 runs east west into downtown Detroit.  When it runs into I-275 the expressway changes names to M-14 and runs west to Ann Arbor.  These two expressways making getting around Detroit area and to the airport easy.  That is what makes these the better cities in South East Michigan.

These four good cities in Wayne County have good schools.  Schools that will prepare your children for life and get them into good colleges.  Schools that have good programs including STEM programs.  These cities residents are a mix of blue collar workers and white collar workers.  I would say Plymouth and Northville are more desirable to many home buyers.  These two cities are a little more white collar.

What is great is that these cities is that they are safe too.  These 4 communities are very safe.  When you move to any one of these cities you are not going to have any drive by shootings.  There are no gangs or mafias running the streets or neighborhoods.  There are no drug dealers openly selling and doing drugs on the street.  You are not going to find hypodermic needles lying on the streets or parks.

There are no burnt out or abandoned homes in these cities.   No junk or abandoned cars on the streets or vacant lots.  Just neatly manicured homes.  Pride of ownership shows in these cities.  City ordinances on what can be stored outside maintain a nice community.  A place you will be proud and happy to live in.

Moving to Canton Michigan

Canton was settled much earlier but subdivisions started popping up in the 1960′s and 1970′s.  During the building boom of the 1990′s and 2000′s they started building bigger homes.  You will find smaller 1200 square foot ranches up to colonials over 2500 square feet.  You will find As of the 2020 the township had a population of 98,659.] Canton Township is Michigan's second most-populated township, and the ninth most populated community overall. The township is ranked as the 96th highest-income place in the United States with a population of 50,000 or more and is also consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the state and nation. In 2015, the township was ranked as the 29th safest city in the United States.

  Moving to Livonia Michigan  

The population was 95,535in 2020, which ranked it as Michigan's ninth most-populated municipality. Livonia is located about 2 miles west of the city limits of Detroit, separated only by Redford. Originally organized as Livonia Township in 1835, it incorporated as a city in 1950.  >In addition to its schools, colleges, churches, parks, recreation center, libraries and the St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia also has commercial and industrial sectors.

Moving to Northville Michigan 

The population was 5,970 in 2010.  Northville is located about 11 miles  west of the city of Detroit and 17 miles northeast of Ann Arbor. Part of the city is in Oakland County and is surrounded by the city of Novi, while the other part is in Wayne County and is surrounded by Northville Township.  Henry Ford purchased a factory in Northville and moved machinery from plants in the area to the factory in 1919. Known as the Northville Valve Plant, the plant was rebuilt in 1936, and enlarged in 1956. The plant provided valves for every Ford car built.  

Moving to Plymouth Michigan

The population was 9,132 in 2010.  Plymouth is located about 10 miles west of the city of Detroit.  The City of Plymouth has a variety of shops and restaurants surrounding Kellogg Park, the de facto center of town. The Inn at St. John's, a hotel conference center and golf resort, is located in Plymouth. The city offers more than fifty recreation programs for all age groups, an NHL-size ice arena and twelve parks. It also organizes major community events such as the popular Fall Festival, Ice Sculpture Spectacular and the Art in the Park, and access to the Plymouth-Canton school district, with a unique complex composed of three high schools located on one 305-acre  campus and is now one of the highest populated high school campuses in the country with close to 6500 students and over 800 faculty members  

These are just four of the best communities west of Detroit.  You and your family will love living here in any one of these cities.  If you are looking for a great community around the Detroit area give me a call.  I will provide you with the information to make a smart decision.  Michigan is a great place to live.  Remember we have great lake communities near Detroit. 

I work with all the relocation companies to make your move easier.  If you are not working with a relocation company that is fine too.  Give me a call or text today to get started.  My cell is 248-310-6239.

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Lakes near Fenton Michigan

Fenton is a great place to live.  Whether you work in Flint, Brighton, Lansing, or in Fenton any of these lake make your ride to work a little easier.  I have had a few lake home buyers discount Fenton area lakes.  They still think that the City of Fenton is a sleepy little town.  Well they have not been to Fenton in a while.  Fenton has changed.  It's is a growing town with many good restaurants, bakeries, bix box stores, bars, and lots of businesses.  You used to have to leave Fenton to get what you needed.  That is not the case anymore.  Fenton has come into it's own.  It is a great town to live in or live nearby.

When you buy a lake home on Pine Lake you will love being so close to Fenton.  There is a Walmart just down Owen Road.  A fire station is within a block or two.  Pine Lake is a great place to call home.  You can come home from work and you will be on the lake.  It's like being on vacation every day of the week.  Sun, water, boating, swimming what more can you want!  Lake living at it's finest and you have all the benefits of what Fenton has to offer.  So let's find you a house on one of the lakes near Fenton.  Whether you want a quiet lake like Pine Lake or would prefer a big all sports lake like Silver Lake I can help.

Byram Lake

Byram Lake size                 132 acres

All sports lake                       Yes

Wake restrictions                   No  

Deepest spot                         50 Feet Deep      

Average Depth                      15.9 Feet                

Public access                         Yes Through Clover Beach

No# of parking spots             Many

Public Beach                          Yes

Marina on lake                       No

Shoreline                                

Named                                  

Water Source                         Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in               Fenton, Fenton Township, Linden

Streets around the lake are     Paved            

City water                              Mostly Well some municipal water            

City sewer                              Sewer            

Canals on Lake                       No        

Lots over an acre on lake        Yes Just a few.....mainly small lots          

Water-ski course                     ????            

Condominiums                        No  

Lake Fenton

Lake Fenton size                845 acres

All sports lake                       Yes

Wake restrictions                   No Only a speed limit on the lake of 45 MPH

Deepest spot                         95 feet    

Average Depth                      21 feet                

Public access                        Yes  DNR boat launch is 2244 Grove Park Rd, Fenton, MI 48430

No# of parking spots             None

Public Beach                         Yes Mantawauka Park is open to the public and includes a gazebo, picnic tables, playscape and swimming beach on Lake Fenton. It is located behind the Fenton Township Civic Community Center located at 12060 Mantawauka Drive, Fenton, MI 48430.

Marina on lake                       Yes Skipper Bud's is located off Fenton Rd.

Shoreline                              Approx 15 miles of shoreline    

Named                                 Originally named Long Lake  

Water Source                         Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in              Fenton Township            

School district for the lake      Fenton or Lake Fenton Schools          

Streets around the lake are     Paved            

City water                              Mostly Well some muncipal water            

City sewer                              Sewer & Septic            

Canals on Lake                       Yes    

Lots over an acre on lake         Yes            

Water-ski course                     No            

Condominiums                        Yes  

Lake Ponemah

Lake Ponemah size             379 acres

All sports lake                       Yes

Wake restrictions                   No  

Deepest spot                         77 feet deep

Mean Depth                          23 feet                

Public access                         Yes

No# of parking spots             35 parking spots

Public Beach                          No

Marina on lake                       Yes Lake Ponemah Marina is on the south side of the lake of Silver Lake Road

Shoreline                               4.67 Mile contour

Named                                  

Water Source                         Spring fed and fed by the Shiawassee River

Cities the lake lies in               Fenton

School district for the lake       Fenton, and Lake Fenton            

Streets around the lake are     Paved            

City water                              Well              

City sewer                              Sewer            

Canals on Lake                       Yes several long ones            

Lots over an acre on lake         Yes several between 1 -2 acres            

Water-ski course                     ?????            

Condominiums                        No    

Lobdell Lake

Lobdell Lake size                545 acres

All sports lake                       Yes

Wake restrictions                   No  

Deepest spot                         78 feet      

Average Depth                      ????                

Public access                        Yes There is a DNR boat launch off Argentine Road.

No# of parking spots             None

Public Beach                         No

Marina on lake                      No

Shoreline                                

Named                                  

Water Source                        Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in              Linden, Argentine Township, Deerfield Township            

School district for the lake      Linden        

Streets around the lake are    Paved & Gravel          

City water                             Mostly Well some muncipal water            

City sewer                             Sewer & Septic            

Canals on Lake                       yes several            

Lots over an acre on lake        Yes            

Water-ski course                     ????            

Condominiums                        No        

Silver Lake

Silver Lake size                  310 acres

All sports lake                       Yes

Wake restrictions                   No  

Deepest spot                         64 feet deep      

Average Depth                      Mean depth 19 feet                

Public access                         No  Only access is through

No# of parking spots             None

Public Beach                          Yes

Marina on lake                       Yes two Silver Spray & White's Landing

Shoreline                                

Named                                  

Water Source                          Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in               Fenton & Fenton Township            

School district for the lake       Fenton & Linden            

Streets around the lake are     Paved            

City water                              Well            

City sewer                              Sewer & Septic            

Canals on Lake                       Yes several            

Lots over an acre on lake         Yes Several          

Water-ski course                     ????  

Condominiums                        No        

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2 best cities in Wayne County MI

If you are moving to the Detroit area because of a job transfer or a new job offer you may wonder what are the best communities in western Wayne County.

As a Michigan relocation specialist I will talk about 2 of the best cities west of Detroit.  These are two cities that many people love.  They are usually high on the list of Michigan relocation buyers because of their location, low crime, good schools, and reputation of the city.  You want to buy in communities like this because when you buy in a community with good schools and low crime usually the homes will continue to appreciate.

Two of the best cities in Wayne County Michigan are

1.)  Plymouth

2.)  Northville

Northville MI

Here is a little more about the town.   Northville is actually two separate and distinct communities.  The City of Northville which is about 2 square miles in size and the surrounding Northville Township.  Many buyers in teh metro Detroit area consider Northville to be a better area or what I consider a pretigious community.  I have some buyers that would not even consider other cities in the western suburbs.  I would call it a semi- affluent community that is mostly white collar. One of the biggest draws about living in Northville is the historic centralized downtown.  It is not a huge downtown area.  Only a few blocks long and wide but a lively, active downtown.  Between the Chamber of Commerce and the downtown development authority they work hard to put together events that will bring visitors to the downtown area.  The downtown area is full of different restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.   There are no national chain restaurants or bars down there.  Just simple mom and pop restaurants that offer great food.  Of course there are local boutique type stores that have all sorts of enteresting merchandise.  At one time Northville Downs harness racing track that is within walking distance brought a lot of people to the area too.   So whether it is a weekday or weekend night you will see people walking around downtown.

Plymouth MI

I would say the biggest reason to live in Plymouth is it's downtown area.  It is one of the biggest small downtown areas in Wayne County.  It is not like some of the old downtowns that have boarded up stores and empty streets.  The local chamber of commerce and the downtown development authority has taken great effort to ensure that the downtown area is vibrant and draws people to the area.   They are constantly putting together activities to bring local residents downtown and having people from all around Metro Detroit come to Plymouth.  The downtown area is full of restaurants, coffee shops, small boutique stores.  90% or more of the local businesses are mom and pop shops.  Not national chains.  They are unique.  They provide good unique dining and products that you may not find in the major chain stores.  You will find owners that are proud of their businesses and trying to provide a product and service to their customers that they won't find elsewhere.

What is Plymouth MI like?

If you need a really good real estate agent in your corner on your next move give me a call.  It does not matter if you are buying or selling I can help you keep more money in your pocket.  Call or text me today at 248-310-6239

[russravary]

3 big all sports lakes near Brighton Michigan

If you are dreaming of living on a lake here in southeastern Michigan and looking in Livingston County you could buy a lake home near Brighton.  Then you will have the best of both worlds.  Living on a lake is a great way of life.  I highly recommend it to everyone that loves the water.  So if you buy a lake home near Brighton you have the house on a lake and you are close to downtown Brighton and all it has to offer.  You can go into town for home repair supplies at Home Depot.  Pet supplies at Pet supplies plus.. Craft supplies at Michaels or Joann Fabrics.  Brighton has everything you need.  Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers, banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and shops.  There are a lot of restaurants and bars in the downtown area.  Brighton is a great place to live and having a lake house makes it even better. 

Let’s talk about 3 of the big all sports lakes near downtown Brighton.  There are many other lakes close but let’s just talk about.

*   Brighton Lake

Brighton Lake is an interesting lake in that it is an all sports lake but at the same time it is electric motors for some of the residents.  When Pine Creek subdivision was built the homes in the subdivision had the restriction of electric motors only.  So when buying on the lake be sure to ask if the property

All sports lake                      Yes ***- see notes above

Private                                 Yes

Size                                     150 acres

Maximum Depth                   ? feet

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                      Unknown

Cities the lake lies in           Brighton , Genoa

School district for the lake   Brighton

Streets around the lake are paved

City water                             some city, some well

City sewer                            sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                    yes

Lots over an acre on lake     yes

Water-ski course                   n/a

Condominiums                       yes

*   Lake Chemung 

Lake Chemung is what I would call a sleeper lake. The majority of the older lake homes have not been torn down to make way for the newer, more modern homes. The majority of the lakefront homes are the older 1000 square foot "cottage homes". Mainy of them are year round homes now. Many of the homes have been updated with new bathrooms, windows, new vinyl. But some have not.

If you are a person that wants to be surrounded by big beautiful waterfront properties, then Lake Chemung may not be the lake for you. It may have a run down old cottage on the same road you are on.  Most of the homes are small and some of the surrounding roads are dirt. Chemung Lake home styles are manily ranches and bungalows but there are cape cods, colonial style homes, split levels.

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  NO

Size                                      310 acres

Maximum Depth                   70 feet

Public Access                       Yes

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                       Ground Runoff and spring fed

Cities the lake lies in            Genoa, Howell

School district for the lake    Howell

Streets around the lake are  Paved

City water                              well

City sewer                             sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                     no

Lots over an acre on lake      yes

Water-ski course                    n/a

Condominiums                       no

*   Woodland Lake

There is a public access site located off Hilton Rd.  Woodland Lake is patrolled by Livingston County Sheriff and DNR quite regularly.  Woodland Lake MI is fed by South Ore Creek and 2 unnamed streams.  Woodland Lake is a "L" shaped lake with lots of small coves and bays.  It the type of lake that I like because when you turn the corner there is more lake to see.

All Sports                         Yes

Size                                   309 acres surface area

Deepest point                    38 ft

Mean Depth                      7.61 ft

Water Clarity                     You can see down 6 to 8 ft

Public Beach                      No

Public Access                    Yes located of Hilton Rd  permit required

Public Access Parking        26 vehicles

Islands                               6 islands (one is public)

Shore Line                         41,943 feet long

Wake Restrictions              None that I know of      

Water Source                     fed by Ore Creek and two unnamed streams

Cities the lake lies in          Brighton

School district for the lake  Howell, Brighton

Streets around the lake are Paved

City water                             Well

City sewer                            Septic, sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                    no

Lots over an acre on lake     yes

Water-ski course                   n/a

condominiums                       no

If you want a really good real estate agent that knows the local lakes and can help you from making a mistake on the wrong lake give me a call or text.  I have saved some lake home buyers from buying the wrong lake house and on the wrong lake.  Don’t let that happen to you.  Call Russ Metro Detroits top lakefront realtor.  248-310-6239

[russravary]

Safest cities near Detroit

Here is a list of 6 cities in Oakland County that are safe.  If you do not know Oakland County is a north and northwest county of Metro Detroit.  It is one of the wealthiest counties in Michigan.  It is a highly desirable area in the suburbs of Detroit.  Some of the wealthiest and most prestigious cities in Metro Detroit are in Oakland County.  

Here are 6 safe cities in the suburbs of Detroit.

1.)  How safe is Beverly Hills

2.)  Is Commerce MI safe

3.)  Is Highland MI a safe place

4.)  Is South Lyon a safe town

5.)  How safe is Royal Oak

6.)  Is West Bloomfield MI safe

Move to Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills crime rages are 81% below the national average.  These are low numbers compared many other cities.  I would call most of the crime in Beverly Hills random crime, or crime related to family disputes.  Of course I don't mean the rape or armed robbery.  Yes you will find random crime like vandalism, and fights.  However you aren't going find gangs roaming the street.  You are not going to find yourself a target of car jacking, armed robbery in Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills police department is currently staffed with 24 members, and we provide police, fire, and EMS services to our community on a continuous 24 hour basis.

Beverly Hills is safer than the majority of cities, towns, and villages in America (81%) and also has a lower crime rate than many communities in Michigan according to FBI statistics.  

The bottom line of whether Is Beverly Hills Michigan safe? Yes it is very safe.  A nice quiet town to live whether you are young or old, or whether you are living there by yourself or raising a family.  Beverly Hills MI is a town that has good schools, low crime and a family atmosphere.

Move to Commerce

According to neighborhood scout Commerce Township is safer than 81% of all US cities.  That is a good percentage. Your chances of being a victim of violent crime in Commerce is 1 in 1,403 versus 1 in 229 in Michigan overall.  Violent crimes are defined as those offenses which involve force or threat of force.  Another website even gives Commerce Township a better rating.  They say  it has an A+ grade.  The A+ grade means the rate of crime is much lower than the average US city. Commerce Township is in the 93rd percentile for safety, meaning 7% of cities are safer and 93% of cities are more dangerous. This is according to crime grade.

What is Commerce Township MI like?

So you are getting a resounding answer to your question "is Commerce Michigan safe?" Commerce is a very safe city.  As some people say "there is crime but it does not affect me"  or "Commerce is very safe, there is no crime to speak of."  Even property crime is low.

Move to Highland

You will not find gangs roaming the streets, nobody demanding protection money. There are no abandoned homes, no crack houses, and no meth labs. It just is not that type of community. It is a very safe community to live in. Highland Township is 33.85 square miles with a population of 19,202. There are about 7,125 households. The average household income is $68,227. 96.9% of the residents are white. Residents of Highland Charter Township tend to lean conservative. 27% of the residents have Bachelors, Graduate, or professional degrees. I would say Highland is a mix of blue collar, and white collar workers.

According to Niche Highland ranks as follows 106 of 336 suburbs with the best public schools in Michigan. It ranks 124 of 337 best suburbs to raise a family in Michigan. The public schools in Highland Charter Township are highly rated.

Call me if you need a good Highland Township real estate agent 248-310-6239

Relocating to South Lyon MI

South Lyon I would say is a very safe place.  It is on the edges of Metro Detroit suburbs to the point the surrounding communities to the west are more rural.  Full of lakes, woods, and fields.  The towns to the west are less populated.  You are far enough away from the higher crime communities that you will not get spillover crime.  South Lyon is a safe place for any family.  You are only going to be exposed to random crime.  You are not going to experience abandoned burnt out homes.  There are no gangs roaming the streets.  The cartels or the mob does not have a presence in South Lyon.   It's a safe community for you and your family to live.  I do not think you are going to ever experience the type of crime you see in the big inter cities like Los Angeles, St Louis, or Chicago.  There are no drive by shootings, no car jackings, no murders every month.  It is a nice place to call home.   

Your chance of becoming a victim of crime in South Lyon is 1 in 288. This equates to a crime rate of 3 per 1,000 residents, making South Lyon one of the safest places in southeast Michigan.  Violent crimes in South Lyon are 87% lower than the national average.   By one website it is ranked #15 in best places to buy a house in the Detroit suburbs.  

Moving to Royal Oak MI

Royal Oak is in the71st percentile for safety, meaning 29% of cities are safer and 71% of cities are more dangerous. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. The rate of crime in Royal Oak is 19.45 per 1,000 residents during a standard year.  Over the years Royal Oak has been on a few safest city lists. Royal Oak has been ranked at the 27th safest place to live in Michigan, according the the real estate site, Movoto.

I think that is really good considering where Royal Oak is located and how many people come to Royal Oak that do not live there.   If you do not know Royal Oak has a great downtown area.  Full of shops, boutique type stores, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.  They have a few condo complexes right in the downtown area and many local residents walk to the downtown area for coffee, dinner, or a drink.  You will see people walking around the downtown area.  A good police prescence helps keeps crime to a minimum.

Moving to West Bloomfield

Over all I would give West Bloomfield an "A" as a town to move to.  It has so many good attributes.  Let's talk about how safe West Bloomfield is.  According to neighborhood scout West Bloomfield is safer than 79% of U.S. Cities.  According to the same website the chance of being a victim of violent crime 1 in 1,491 in West Bloomfield.  It is 1 in 229 chance in Michigan.  West Bloomfield is very safe. There is really no crime to speak of.

Crime grade gives the township an A+ grade.  The A+ grade means the rate of crime is much lower than the average US city. West Bloomfield is in the 93rd percentile for safety, meaning 7% of cities are safer and 93% of cities are more dangerous.

According to city data the 2019 crime rate in West Bloomfield Township, MI is 46, which is 5.8 times smaller than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 18.2% U.S. cities. The 2019 West Bloomfield Township crime rate rose by 7% compared to 2018. In the last 5 years West Bloomfield Township has seen decline of violent crime and decline of property crime.  According to Fox 2 news list of the 50 safest cities in Michigan West Bloomfield is the 29th safest city in Michigan.

If you are looking for a safe city in Metro Detroit give me a call.  I can help narrow your home search down.  I will get you all the information you need to make a smart home buying decision.  Call me at 248-310-6239.  I have helped hundreds of people relocate in Metro Detroit suburbs.

                             Russ Ravary your metro Detroit realtor

                            “making your next move easier and less stressful”

[russravary]

Private Lakes in Waterford MI

Here is a list of  11 private lakes in Waterford Township.   Waterford Township in Oakland County Michigan has 34 lakes and many different lakefront homes.  About 4.0 square miles of Waterford, or 11.22%, is water.  There are many parks that have access to the lakes, including the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area, Dodge Brothers State Park and Waterford Oaks county park.

Eagle Lake

Elizabeth Lake Waterford Twp

Fiddle Lake

Geneva Lake

Huntoon Lake Real estate

Morgan Lake

Pleasant Lake

Scott Lake

Silver Lake

Watkins Lake

Williams Lake

I will go over a few of the private lakes in Waterford so you get to know them a little better.  

Williams Lake in Oakland County.

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  Yes

Size                                      155 acres

Maximum Depth                   45 feet

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                      Unknown

Cities the lake lies in           Waterford

School district for the lake   Waterford

Streets around the lake are  Paved

City water                              municipal

City sewer                             Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                     yes

Lots over an acre on lake     yes

Water-ski course                   n/a

Condominiums                      no

Silver Lake in Oakland County

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  Yes

Size                                       101 acres

Maximum Depth                  

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                       Unknown.

Cities the lake lies in            Waterford

School district for the lake    Waterford

Streets around the lake are  paved

City water                              Municipal, community

City sewer                             Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                     no

Lots over an acre on lake     no

Water-ski course                   n/a

Condominiums                      yes

Scott Lake in Oakland County MI

All sports lake                    Yes  

Private                                 Yes

Size                                      77.5 acres

Maximum Depth                 35 feet

Public Access                      No

Public Beach                       No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                      Spring fed

Cities the lake lies in           Waterford

School district for the lake   Waterford

Streets around the lake are Paved

City water                            Municipal

City sewer                           Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                   no

Lots over an acre on lake    yes

Water-ski course                 n/a

 Condominiums                    no

Pleasant Lake in Oakland County MI

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  Yes

Size                                       95 acres

Maximum Depth                   52 feet

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                      Unknown

Cities the lake lies in           Waterford

School district for the lake   Waterford

Streets around the lake are Gravel, paved

City water                             municipal, community

City sewer                            Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                    yes

Lots over an acre on lake    no

Water-ski course                  n/a

Condominiums                     no

Watkins Lake in Oakland County

All sports lake                      Yes

Private                                  Yes

Size                                       238 acres

Maximum Depth                  25 feet

Public Access                       No

Public Beach                        No

Wake restrictions                 Unknown

Water Source                       Unknown

Cities the lake lies in                        Waterford

School district for the lake               waterford

Streets around the lake are               Paved

City water                                         Municipal, Community

City sewer                                         Sewer sanitary

Canals on Lake                                  yes

Lots over an acre on lake                   no

Water-ski course                                 n/a

Condominiums                                   no

I hope this quick list of private lakes in Waterford MI helps you understand the local lakes.  Call me if you are looking to buy or sell a lake home or any home.  My cell is 248-310-6239  If you want a good real estate agent to make your home search easier and less stressful give me a call.   

[russravary]

Best Real Estate Agents in Oakland County

Are you looking for a great real estate agent?  A real estate agent that will do more than just sell a home to line their pocket.  One that will really look out for you and try to do their best for you.  That is what so many people are looking for in a real estate agent.  One that cares about you.  Sometimes you have to look beyond real estate to find that real estate agent.  You want a real estate agent that really cares.  An agent that is a charitable agent.  A person that is already doing good in the community is one that will look out for you.  

A real estate agent that gives outside of real estate or uses some of their profits to make the world a little better places is probably going to be the realtor that will help you honestly and work in your best interest instead of their own.  A caring person just doesn’t quit caring.  It’s about what is in their heart.  

That is why I am applying to be your agent.  I am a caring, giving agent that likes to make the world a little better place and I take care of my clients.  Quite a few of my clients have become long term friends.  My thought process is that when I finish the transaction that if I run into that clients in a grocery store I want them to be glad to see me.  I do not want to be hiding and running down a different aisle.  That’s the type of man and real estate agent I am.  My goal is to make your next move easier and to help you keep more of your money in your pocket.  My ultimate goal is to make you happy!

So if you are looking for one of the best real estate agents in Oakland County give me a call or text.  My cell is 248-310-6239   

Here are some reviews from past clients

Highly likely to recommend 5 stars      Russ was a monumental help for my wife and I when we bought our first home! He went out of his way to help us with all of the first time home buyer questions and was always available. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy. As we have only purchased a home and not sold one I can only speak to that aspect, but once (if) we plan to move, I know who to call!Show less

Highly likely to recommend 5 stars     Russ was an awesome Realtor.  We were first time home buyers so we were a little unsure of what to do, or what to look for when buying a home.  Matt, a friend of mine had bought a house through Russ before and recommended Russ so we thought we would give him a try.   We wanted to be near family, friends, and work so it limited the number of cities we wanted to live in.  We wanted a good city with good schools and easy highway access, too.  Most of all we wanted an updated home that we would not have to spend thousands of dollars to get it the way we wanted.   Russ was patient and showed us every house we wanted to see which is great because some realtors are so pushy.  He never pushed us to buy.  We had the freedom to choose the house we wanted. Russ helped us put together a solid offer so we got the newer home we wanted.  We are loving our home and have made it our own.  Russ is an awesome Realtor and I would call him and recommend him to any of my friends and co-workers.Show less

Highly likely to recommend 5 stars       We highly recommend Russ to help you in your home buying and selling process.  He is very professional, knowledgeable, helpful and easy to work with. He initially came by the house we were selling and took a tour and let us know what he thought would help in the sale our home.  We listened to his advice and received three full price offers the same day it went on the market.  Needless to say we were elated. He also worked hard to help us find our dream home and made the overall process very easy for us.  Anytime we had questions, he was very quick to get back with us and even went out of his way to make sure things went as smooth as possible. My husband and I cannot say enough great things about Russ.  If you take his advice, you will not be sorry. We will definitely be recommending him to anyone we know who is looking to buy or sell their home.Show less

Highly likely to recommend 5 stars      Russ recently helped me and my family find the perfect home. He was very responsive to our questions and emails. He worked around our schedules when setting up home visits. To sum it up Russ was very professional and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to my family and friends.

Highly likely to recommend  5 stars       Here are the straight-up personal experience facts when having Russ as your Realtor: When my wife and I were looking to move into our second home, we put together a comprehensive list of wants, needs, preferred locations (of course), and most of all, price point.  We wanted a realtor that a) Listened to us; b) Keep us informed and updated with the latest listings; c) Worked with our schedule; d) Kept in contact without being pushy. Although, you cannot always find the absolute perfect home and/or neighborhood you want to be in, with a bit of patience Russ helped us to find a home close enough to suit our needs.  That being said, Russ is very practical per the following: 1) When you tell him exactly what you are looking for, he does a great job in narrowing the search to the specifics in which you identified.  Case and point, the minimum we wanted was a 2000 square foot home with a large garage,  at least a half acre wooded lot that was not on a corner or on a major road.  So for the most part, Russ pre-screened listings per those requirements so that we didn’t kid ourselves wasting time to see homes that didn’t fit the bill. 2) When we gave Russ our maximum price, he did not go overboard and send us listings that we could not afford.  In fact, any listings he provided that exceeded our maximum were almost all likely to be counter offered for less than our maximum. 3) Russ is definitely not pushy.   4) Once he shows you a few homes, he helps to hone your wants and needs in his search. 5) He (in my honest opinion) wants you to be happy with your purchase, as he ensures it meets your requirements before you sign the agreement.   6) He is pretty darn good about keeping in contact. All in all, Russ puts in a lot of time and effort to help you find the right home and is very knowledgeable and personable.  He might not be able to coin the “House-sold Name”, but yea, you can “Rave” about him.

12/29/2015 - user3550930 Bought a Single Family home in 2015 in Waterford, MI.

12/03/2015 - user2906903 Bought a Single Family home in 2013 in Farmington, MI.

12/02/2015 - zuser20140405153724268 Sold a Single Family home in 2015 in Southgate, MI.

12/02/2015 - themccoys49 Bought a Single Family home in 2011 in Warren, MI.

12/01/2015 - Scott Siepierski Bought a Single Family home in 2013 in Livonia, MI.

Best real estate agents in Milford Michigan

Best real estate agents in White Lake MI 

Best real estate agents in West Bloomfield Michigan

West Bloomfield top realtors

Best realtors in Commerce Michigan

Best real estate agents in Highland MI

[russravary]

Lakes in Commerce Michigan

The seven biggest all sports lakes in Commerce:

North & South Commerce Lake

Wolverine Lake in Wolverine Lake Village Michigan

Lower Straits Lake

Lake Sherwood in Commerce MI

Long Lake

Union Lake in Commerce Michigan most of the lake in West Bloomfield

Middle Straits Lake - most of the lake is in West Bloomfield

The three public lakes in Commerce Township

Union Lake

Proud Lake

Long Lake

The Huron River runs from North to South through Commerce Township.  Two lakes are really wide spots in the Huron River.  Two of the lakes like that are Fox Lake and Proud Lake.  Proud Lake is part of the Proud Lake recreation area though there are some private homes on one side of the lake.

Best Lakes in Commerce Township

Let’s check out the biggest and best lakes in Commerce.  Union Lake, Middle Straits Lake, and Lower Straits Lake are all what I would call pricier lakes.  There are some beautiful luxury waterfront estates on these three lakes.  Some of these lake homes cost more than a million dollars.  Most of the other lakes in Commerce have what I would call normal homes.  Homes that range from 1000 square feet to over 3500 square feet.  There are small lake cottages still left in the township.  You will see these smaller older cottages next to rebuilt bigger homes.  Lake homes in Commerce Michigan are what I would call a mixed bag.  From very nice luxury lake houses to regular homes to remodeled/ added on cottages to small block or wood frame cottages under 1000 square feet.

All sports lakes in Commerce MI

You will see ranches, bungalows, splt levels, and colonials on many of the lakes.

Here is a complete list of Commerce Lakes

Bass Lake              Private

Carroll Lake           Private        33 acres          38 feet deep       All sports

Carus Lake            Private

Clark Lake             Private        15 acres                                     All sports

Commerce Lake    Private      236 acres           67 feet deep     All sports

Cranberry Lake      Private

Fox Lake                Private        62 acres                                   All sports

Hawk Lake             Private        

Lake Sherwood I    Private       258 acres          20 feet deep     All sports

Long Lake              Public        125 acres                                   All sports

Lower Straits Lake  Private       236 acres          22 feet deep    All sports

Proud Lake             Public          49 acres

Tray Lake                Private

Twin Suns                Private

Union Lake               Public        465 acres         110 feet deep     All sports

Wolverine Lake        Private      265 acres           58 feet deep      All sports

There are seven big all sports lake in Commerce MI

All of the lakes that I have no size for are smaller lakes.  Most lakes in the township are smaller though there are some bigger all sports lakes.  Lower Straits Lake, Wolverine Lake, and Commerce Lake are the three biggest all sports lake that are fully in Commerce. Union Lake and Middle Straits Lake have just small tips of the lakes in the township.  Commerce Lake homes are some what more desirable than some lake homes that are further out from Detroit.  Commerce Township homes are probably closer to the expressways than many other lake homes.  That makes it more convenient and home owner have shorter drive times than some other Oakland County lakefront home owners.

Call me to find your dream lake home in Commerce.  My cell is 248-310-6239.  I will save you so much time and energy when looking for a lake homes.  Your lake home search will be so much easier.