The Wish List

Having gone back to the drawing board we sat down to create a list of things we wanted in our summer retreat. My advice is this is the starting point for anyone considering purchasing a lake/cabin property. I could write an entire book on the details that involve this, but I will keep it to the basics. Just understand that Minnesota lakes vary greatly in health, size, building ordinance, and designation. We found countless lots for sale that wouldn't have been buildable or had limited options for various reasons. Also consider that with new construction you'll need to follow the current building codes depending on the municipality, more on that in a bit.

Our list of must haves included, being 2.5-hour drive from home. A healthy lake with good clarity and a sandy swimming area. We also hoped to find some privacy with surrounding forest for a quieter retreat from the weekday grind. We eventually decided on a 3.75-acre wooded lot on a small but very clean private lake north of Crosby Minnesota. Our lot also include onsite electric and a drilled well.

A few bits of advice on this are to patient and find the lot that suits you. You can't change the lake or the location. When selecting your lot be careful of steep frontage, ordnance typically requires setbacks for structures from the lake. Steep frontages may be classified as bluffs and include additional setbacks. Steep frontage can also provide construction challenges like difficult access to waterfront or deep drop offs in the lake frontage. Alternatively, a steep frontage can provide for great views. Just do some homework before you jump. Other things to consider when looking at lots are soil type. Soil will greatly influence the cost of septic systems. Location of nearest utilities may also have significant cost impacts. I see island and remote area lots at bargain prices because utility access to the property can easily exceed $50k. Seasonal access can also be a problem if you're in snow country. Some areas don't plow roads in winter months and year-round access may be impossible. All these questions can often be answered with a quick call to the local city, DNR, or utility company.