About Russ Ravary

Waterfront homes for sale in Oakland County Michigan 

Homes for sale on Oakland County Lakes

So many different lakes in Oakland County.  Big lakes, small lakes, all sport lakes, non all sports lakes.  Michigan's Department of Natural Resources reports Oakland County has 358 lakes. Oakland County Parks says the number is 1,468.  I think the last number is way off, unless they are counting all the small ponds scattered throughout the county.  My thoughts when I first started this website back in 2008 was to provide my clients and other web surfers a comprehensive guide to the lakes.  Every year when I list a home, or go out and show homes I learn more about Oakland County Lakes and the various houses on the lake.  Then I add it to the website.  The Southeast lake home search on the site can give you an idea of which lake and the prices for the type of lake house that fits you and your families criteria.  At any time feel free to call me on my cell at (248) 310-6239 or email with questions (yesmyrealtor@gmail.com).  I have helped hundred and hundreds of people find their dream home and sell their homes, so feel free to reach out.

                                                                                                                                       Russ Ravary 

Oakland County Lake Homes - How to find your dream waterfront home

Finding your dream lakefront home in Oakland County Michigan may be a little harder than you think.  If this is your first time buying a waterfront home then it may surprise you on how many factors that you did not think about when contemplating a lake house.  It is harder to find that perfect house, but let me tell you the lake lifestyle is well worth it.  In fact I believe many times most lake home buyers only succeed at buying a lake home because they are willing to compromise on what they want.  The home buyers that "have to have" this or that, many times never buy a lake home.

If the house and it's features are more important than achieving the dream of living on the lake then you may be one of those home buyers that never live on the lake.  Many times it is because the home buyers wants are not possible in that price range.  You have to remember a similar home in a subdivision could anywhere be from $100,000 to $500,000 more on a lake.  Lake property is in demand and you will not get the same house on the lake for the same price that you would off.  The key is being flexible and giving up on find the absolutely perfect house.  Find the "close to perfect" house so you can live on the lake.  Here is a list of chain of lakes in Oakland County

Buying a lake home in Oakland County will bring you so many great memories with family and friends.  Down deep many lake home buyers are what I call "water people".  They have a deep connection to water.  It makes them feel relaxed, and happy just by looking out on it.  If you are one of those people that feel contented when around water lake living will make your life so much more fulfilling. 

So what are some of the items you are going to consider when buying a lake home are:

• width of the lake frontage                                  - lake bottom in front of the homes (sandy?)                                  - parking
• closeness of neighbors                                      - type of home next door                                                              - type of neighborhood the lake house is in
• parking                                                            - is the house on a hill or flat ground                                              - layout of the house
• layout of the house on the property                    - all sports lake or not                                                                  - private or public lake
• amenities on the lake

You usually do not have these considerations when looking at homes off the lake.  You have to remember there are very few "modern" waterfront homes out there.  What I mean by that is there are fewer homes that were built after 1990.  Many of them were built to fit the land.  Many of them were lake cottages that have been added onto multiple times.  Sometimes the layouts are odd to what we are used to.  Some lake homes are "shotgun" homes that are long and narrow.  Many lake homes in Oakland County are unique.  It is rarer to find a "normal layout" simply because most lake houses are custom built or remodeled to the owners own lifestyle.  They may not fit you or you may have to adapt to the style.  Remember it is also all about lake living.  So to be successful in finding your dream lake home you need an open mind.  How can you and your family fit into that waterfront home?  Can you give up on one of those "must haves" to enjoy the lake lifestyle.  Sure sometimes it all comes together and you find the perfect home, but each year I can count 10 or more buyers that didn't find that perfect home.  Times that by all the other realtors out there and there are many people that never buy.  It is about setting the expectations right upfront to the home buyer.  Then you just have to make the decision yourself. 

Here is more information on homes for sale on Oakland County Lakes.  You will find an indepth list and lots of great info on this page.  Or scroll down and see the list of individual lakes and click on the lake you want to know more about.

I understand lake homes and know our local lakes so I can help make your search easier.  As you go through this website feel free to call, text, or email me with questions about the homes or the lakes. 

My cell is (248)310-6239, YesMyRealtor@gmail.com

List of Genessee County Lakes  

• Fenton area lakes
• Lapeer Area Lakes

List of Livingston County Lakes

• Brighton area lakes 
• Hartland Township Lakes 
• Hamburg area lakes
• Howell area lakes

List of Oakland County Lakes

•   Clarkston Lakes 
•   Commerce Township Lakes
•   Highland Township Lakes 
•   Lakes near Milford  
•   Orchard Lake Lakes
•   Lake Orion area lakes
•   Ortonville area lakes
•   Lakes in Oxford MI
•   Waterford Township Lakes 
•   West Bloomfield Lakes
•   Lakes in West Bloomfield Township
•   White Lake Township Lakes 

List of Washtenaw County Lakes

List of Wayne County Lakes

 Oakland County Lake Homes For Sale

$450,000

6598 Steeple Ridge

Independence Township, MI

Beds: 2 • Baths: 2.1

$700,000

6422 ENCLAVE Drive

Independence Township, MI

Beds: 5 • Baths: 3.1

$379,900

6598 STEEPLE Ridge

Independence Township, MI

Beds: 2 • Baths: 2.1

$2,960,000

369 N OLD WOODWARD AVE UNIT 405 Avenue

Birmingham, MI

Beds: 2 • Baths: 3.1

$2,560,000

369 N OLD WOODWARD AVE UNIT 301 Avenue

Birmingham, MI

Beds: 3 • Baths: 2.1

Lakefront Homes for Sale Oakland County Michigan

Here is a list of lakes in Oakland County alphabetically

Oakland County MI Lakes A - E

Oakland County MI Lakes F - K

Oakland County MI Lakes L - M

Oakland County MI Lakes N - S 

Oakland County MI Lakes T - Z

Are you looking at lakefront homes for sale in Oakland County Michigan?  Then you have come to the right lake website with over 300 pages of indepth local lakefront home and Oakland County lake information.  It is a good real estate market with prices slowly rising.  The higher priced lake homes have fewer buyers in 2014.  I have sold more lake homes in the under $300,000 market.  I have quite a few buyers looking for the special home buy they cannot find one yet. The lakefront real estate market is much stronger in the $150,000 to $300,000 range.  This site has more information on so many lakes in Oakland  county Michigan than any other website in the area.  We have real estate information on lakefront homes including recent sold prices so you can gauge what is going on a particular Livingston County Lake or Oakland County Lake.  We also try to give you whether it the lake is a private or an allsports lake in Oakland County Michigan.  Information you will find here is lake rules, depth, size, water source, and any other information we have gathered by talking to residents of the lake.

I myself live on White Lake in White Lake Township.  I love the lake living life style, and I think you will to.  That is why I love helping lakefront buyers and sellers.  I believe it is the best place to live.   One of the biggest comments I get from my lake home buyers is why didn’t I do this years ago.  Nothing is more relaxing to come home after a long day at work and just relax on the deck looking out on the water.  You don't have to pack up the car to drive to the lake you live there!   You will be able to be relaxing on the water while other people are driving 3 -5 hours in traffic coming back home from up north.   Your neighbors and friends will drop by on the boat and ask you if you want to take a short ride on the lake now and then.  A lakefront home in the area makes it so much easier for you to invite people over.  What is nice is that they can go home and not have to spend the night.    You will find the friendships you form on the lake will be life long friendships.  So come explore the many lakes Oakland County MI and the other four southeastern Michigan Counties have to offer. 

                                                                                     Just an example of a beautiful home on Lower Long Lake

There are so many different types of Oakland County MI Lakes & Livingston County MI  lakes.  We have

• Electric motor only lakes  such as Bogie Lake White Lake MI or Green Lake West Bloomfield MI
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• Large public all sports lakes like Cass Lake Waterford MI or Duck Lake Highland MI
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• Chains of lakes – like the Portage Chain of Lakes in Livingston County
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• Lakes with easy highway access like Woodland Lake Brighton Michigan, or Whitmore Lake in Livingston County Michigan
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• Small Lakes l like Darb Lake West Bloomfield  MI or Lake Shangrila Hamburg Township
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• Lakes that have a subdivision feel like Voorheis Lake Orion MI or Long Lake Hartland Michigan
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• Lakes that have luxury estate homes on them like Lake Angelus Oakland County or Walnut Lake West Bloomfield Michigan
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Whether you are a fisherman, a nature lover, or an avid watersports enthusiast there are lakefront homes for sale in Oakland County Michigan and Livingston County (Wayne, Washtenaw, and Genesee too) that has the type of lake you are looking for.  Our local lakes have a variety of wildlife through out the year.  Many times we have different types of birds on their way through because the lake may be in their migration path.  Swans, geese, and ducks are plentiful on the lakes.  So go get your binoculars and get ready to enjoy the wildlife viewing. 

Not  only are there so many varied types of lakes in southeastern Michigan, but there is a wide variety of lakefront homes for sale in Oakland County MI and the surrounding counties.  Looking for a cabin under $200,000 within an hours drive of  Detroit we have them.  Ranch style homes, Bungalows, Tudor style, colonials, and split levels are all around here.  Newer built homes will really cost you on the lakes but they are around.  Looking for a luxury lakefront estate home? We have over thirty homes that are priced over a million dollars in Oakland County alone.  Year round , summer homes, or weekend retreats you can find a lakefront home for sale in Oakland County that fits your wants and desires.  You will find homes with the latest amenities and open layouts.  You will find lakefront homes for sale in Livingston County, Genessee, Washtenaw, and Wayne too that make so many people happy.

Of course the lake frontage varies from house to house.  I recently sold a lakefront house in White Lake that was only on 23' of lake frontage.  But there are some lots that have over 200 foot of lake frontage.  Finding acreage in southeastern Michigan on a lake is rare.  It will be pricey but there are some out there.

The lake season is short here in Michigan but the hours of fun you, your friends, and family have will be remembered for years and years.  So why wait?

I know the lakes and lake real estate prices real well.  I will work hard to find you a home that you and your family will love.  Give me a call and let’s get starting making your dreams come true.

Here are some quick links on this website that will help you find the best lakefront home in Oakland County.  Little factors whether the lake is an All sports lake or not.  Or a public lake or not.

• Wondering which lakes have public access? Oakland County Lakes with DNR Access Ramps
• To get a waterski course on a lake you must get a majority of lake residents to approve it.  Here is the current list of Lakes in Oakland County with waterski courses on them already.
• Are you looking for a non motor lake or an All sports lakes in Oakland County Michigan?  If you are a wakeboarder or waterskier you will want an all sports lake
• So how big of a lake do you want?  Once again it boils down to what you really want to do on the lake.  List Of Oakland County Lakes by Size  Some lakes show different sizes because different places show different acreage. 
• Are you tired of owning a home and want no outside maintenance?  Then condo living may be for you.  Here is a list of Oakland Lakes that have lakefront condos on them
• Here is a list of public lakes in Oakland County Michigan if you want to be able to determining if the lake is private or public.
• There is not a lot of vacant lakefront land anymore.  Usually the pieces that are out there have been held by owners with the dream of building their own lakefront homes.  Sometimes vacant lake lots are unbuildable because of City or DNR restrictions.  More information about vacant lake properties in Oakland County Michigan
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Lake home buying tips 

Michigan inland lake laws

Oakland County Lake Homes for Sale