Michigan Vacation home/STR

[Arvin Chan]

Hello, I am new here. I live in Indiana bordering Chicago. I am looking for my first investment in a vacation home that I can turn into a STR when I am not using it. Originally I decided on an area near the smoky mountains, but real estate near that area is so expensive and it's a very long drive. So I decided to look to my northern neighbor Michigan. I hear great things about Michigan from family and friends. I went through old posts on this website in my research, and cities such as Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Saugatuck...etc were mentioned. Saugatuck seems on the more expensive side. In a vacation home, I am looking for access to streams and rivers cause I love fishing, I also want to be somewhere in a less crowded area but close to amenities with a car. I have also been using my limited access to airdna to acquire info. But I am still clueless on location, I am looking for properties preferably under 300k. Any comments and ideas will be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[Arvin Chan]

Quote from @Michael Baum:

So in @Arvin Chan's defense @Drew Sygit, he did state up front that he wants to use it regularly so it makes sense. It is pretty much the way we did things as well so I get that.

Plus the things he likes to do are things many people like to do so it should do just fine!

Arvin, just take some time and look at towns near the water. Check out some fishing blogs or sites that talk about Michigan. See where others are going en masse. Then you can make a more informed decision.  Maybe take a weekend and head up there and look around!

In the end, we are here to make a profit and grow the business. Checking it all out is most of the fun! 

Thanks for all your help and guidance. That is what I am doing now, Airbnb and realtor sites comparing.