The Iowa Great Lakes are truly a treasure that spans generations.
For many years, families and long-time friends have made this region their regular vacation destination. The traditions formed during those visits are often continued by the following generations. To this day, many families dream of making the shores of the Iowa Great Lakes, including East and West Okoboji lakes and Big Spirit Lake, a permanent or secondary home.
There are many benefits of moving to the Iowa Great Lakes region – likely too many to count, if you ask our humble opinion. However, we’ve compiled several of our favorite benefits that come with lakefront living here in this picturesque, historical region of Iowa.
Let’s make your dream of owning a lakefront home or property in the Iowa Great Lakes a reality. Contact Jensen Real Estate to begin your search for lakefront listings in the area.
1. Enjoy Nature’s Phenomenal Beauty
Let’s set a scene: Imagine yourself waking up to a pot of freshly brewed coffee. You toss on your robe and step out onto the patio or deck of your lakefront home. As you look out across the glass-like water, you can see the rising sun’s reflection. Birds are chirping and you can see a family of deer in the neighboring wooded area.
Life in that moment sounds as close to perfect as possible, right?
Well, when you live in the Iowa Great Lakes region, you have encounters with nature and all its beauty on an almost constant basis. There is not much that can top the serenity of these moments.
2. Improve Your Health
Did you know living on a lake can be beneficial for your health? Really!
Being on or near the lake can help lower anxiety levels and improve overall mental health. Experts attribute this to a few reasons. For one, the lakes are typically closely connected to nature, which can offer a calming atmosphere and presence.
It also helps that lakes offer ample opportunities for recreation and physical activity, both of which also improve overall well-being. Many in the Iowa Great Lakes enjoy more active hobbies, such as water skiing and tubing, while plenty of others enjoy swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and lakeshore yoga – just to name a few activities.
There is also something to be said about lakefront living leading to better creativity and problem-solving. Perhaps this is why many successful business people chose to spend their “down time” in our region.
3. An Angler’s Paradise
The Iowa Great Lakes are renowned across the Midwest – the entire country, even – as a premier fishing destination that rewards anglers with trophy fish and wonderful experiences.
Many anglers would dream of owning a lakefront home here. The easy, year-round access (as long as you’re an ice fishing enthusiast) offers top-notch bass, northern pike, muskie and walleye fishing – and many more species.
There’s a reason many are constantly boasting about fishing in the Iowa Great Lakes. It’s where so many have made memories of a lifetime from a boat, dock or shoreline.
4. Strong, Welcoming Communities
Have you ever heard either of the phrases “Midwest Nice” or “Iowa Nice”? The people who live here in the Iowa Great Lakes regions embody the sentiment behind both of those phrases.
No matter the community you find a lake house in, whether that be Arnolds Park, Orleans or anywhere in between, you will find communities full of people who are welcoming to newcomers and care deeply for one another.
With the support of a community behind you, your lakefront home will indeed feel like “home.”
Plus, if you’re interested in living in the region year-round, then you can take comfort in the fact that our communities are also home to many vibrant and successful businesses that offer plentiful job and career opportunities.
5. Investment Opportunity
Lakefront homes are popular. This is not changing anytime soon.
Shoreline of any desirable lake is also a limited resource. Those who are blessed to own a lake house, especially in the Iowa Great Lakes, are making a wise investment.
First, the value of your lake home is likely to continue increasing over time. Should your family seek a return on your savvy investment down the road, they will likely see it pay off and then some. Of course, there’s plenty to be said for sentimental value, too.
For those who do not wish to sell, renting out to tourists and visitors throughout the year is often also an option. Tourists will pay higher rates to stay on a lake than they will just off the lake or in the next town over.
If you rent your home for more than 14 days out of the year, then you can declare that income and deduct certain expenses from the property, such as repairs, when filing taxes with the IRS.
6. Higher Quality of Life
There’s a reason the Iowa Great Lakes is looked upon so fondly by so many people. For those living here full-time, part-time or simply visiting, a trip to this region is associated with relaxation, rejuvenation and a little bit of fun thrown into the mix.
It’s safe to say that happiness can be associated with the “Iowa Nice” we mentioned earlier.
But it’s true! Those who live here all year round have access to wonderful, high-performing schools, great career opportunities and foundational social connections that can’t as easily be found in the hustle and bustle of the busier city life.
Even the folks who elect to live here during only the summer months are always eager to return to the shores of Spirit Lake and Okoboji. That’s when community events and social gatherings are at their peak.
Find Your Dream Lake Home
Ready to begin the search for your dream lake home here in the Iowa Great Lakes? The team at Jensen Real Estate can assist you in your search for the perfect lakefront house.
Browse our new listings or contact us today to begin your journey toward calling our beautiful region “home.”