Lake country: "Twenty lakes in twenty minutes"

Clare County is real lake country — Harrison even bills itself as “Twenty Lakes in Twenty Minutes.” The best-known is Budd Lake, a 175-acre all-sports lake right in Harrison, with Wilson State Park and its sandy beach and campground on the shore. Beyond that you’ll find dozens more, from all-sports lakes like Lake George to quieter fishing lakes scattered across the county. If you’re buying on the water, a few things are worth knowing.

Many lakes here have a lake association and a county-administered lake board that manages the water level, weed control, and dam upkeep — and those costs are usually billed to lakefront owners as a special assessment on the property-tax bill, separate from ordinary taxes. Ask what the assessments run before you buy. Most lakefront homes are also on a well and septic system (see the well-and-septic note), and septic systems near the water are held to careful standards. Finally, check whether a lake is “all-sports” (motorboats, skiing) or no-wake, since that shapes both the lifestyle and the summer noise.

Lake living is the heart of this area’s appeal — just go in knowing the full picture of costs and rules.