Buying on one of the county's lakes

Lapeer County is dotted with small lakes, and lakefront homes are a big part of the local market. They run from Lake Nepessing and the Barnes Lake and Millers Lake communities to Lake Metamora and the lakes around Dryden’s Seven Ponds. A place on the water is wonderful. But lake living comes with a few things to understand before you buy.

Most of these lakes have a legally established lake level. The Lapeer County Drain Commissioner maintains it. Dams and weirs hold those levels, and the lakefront owners usually pay for them through a special assessment on their property tax bills. Lakefront property also comes with riparian rights — and rules — about docks. Many lakes have an association that handles weed control and other shared upkeep, sometimes funded by another assessment. And lake homes outside town are on wells and septic. A septic system close to the water is something to have inspected carefully.

None of this is a reason not to buy on a lake — people love it here. Just ask about the lake level, any assessments, the lake association, and the septic system before you sign.