For most lakefront property owners, entertaining in the summertime means taking guests on a cruise of the lakes. This summer we seem to be entertaining more than the usual number of people who are not familiar with the Portage Lakes.  

As usual, most of them were interested in the prices of the houses they liked, and almost everyone was amazed at the range of prices and how high the sold prices have been on what they felt were lower end properties. Well, such is real estate on the Portage Lakes – you pay a steep price for the privilege of waterfront living bordering a state park. 

The reasons are varied for why lakefront homes cost so much more than comparable non-lakefront houses in neighboring areas. The most obvious one being that it is one of the few areas where you can walk out your door onto your own boat dock on a lake that is part of a state park that is only minutes away from several major metropolitan areas. 

The most desirable properties are located on three major interconnecting lakes, West Reservoir, East Reservoir, and Turkeyfoot Lake. Directly attached to these three lakes are four inlets that are large enough to be referred to as  Rex Lake, Mud Lake, Miller Lake, and Cottage Groove Lake. All of these interconnected lakes are commonly referred to as the “main chain” of boating lakes.  

There are 5 other lakes in the Portage Lakes State Park system and they are connected in various non-navigable ways because of the different elevations of each lake. The properties around these lakes vary in price but generally are not nearly as expensive as those on the “main chain” and are generally referred to as “fishing lakes”.  These are Summit Lake, Nesmith Lake, Long Lake, North Reservoir, and the largest of all of the lakes, Nimisila Lake. Nimisila is a favorite of many sailboaters.

All combined there is a total of 2043 acres of water in the Portage Lakes State Park system.

Another factor in the high property values is the many recreational opportunities including, excellent fishing, and swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and camping. On the ice In the winter time there is ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and “four- wheeling”.

For nature lovers there is the joy of watching the great variety of birds, including ducks, geese, herons, hawks, kingfishers, ospreys, and even the occasional eagle. Since the lakes are on a migration route for waterfowl, for a few short days each year you will see a variety of migratory ducks, geese, and even loons on their way north or south.

Another factor in the higher property value is that most lakefront property owners are in a secure enough financial position that they do not need to sell, so they can hold out for their price. Many are only willing to sell so that they can upgrade to an even more expensive lakefront property. In few situations will you find a sense of urgency to sell.

All of this added to the limited number of lakefront homes on the market at any one time ensures that there has not been the same kind of drastic fluctuation in price evident in most other area markets.