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Houghton Lake

Michigan · Natural · near Houghton Lake

20,044 acres 22 ft deep 6 ft clarity Water D
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6.2SCORE
Survey summary · Michigan
20,044
Surface acres
22 ft
Max depth
32 mi
Shoreline
6 ft
Typical clarity
1,135 ft
Elevation

Houghton Lake covers 20,044 acres in Michigan and drops to 22 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Short-term rental posture: Roscommon County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Fishing
  • Ice fishing

Watch outs

  • Nutrient-rich water; seasonal algae blooms are possible

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 4.2
Recreation 7.2
Value 4.5
Access 7.3
Investment 8.4

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

WalleyeNorthern pikeBluegillPerch

On the water

FishingIce fishingBoatingTip-Up Town
Live from HOUGHTON LAKE NR HOUGHTON LAKE HEIGHTS, MI. This is a lake or reservoir station measuring gage height on this water body — direct sensor readings, not estimates.
19.00 deg C
Temperature
2026-07-24
3.12 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 71 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 195 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 22 ft max avg 7 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 22 ft, average 7 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityStable Typical drawdown2 ft Drawdown seasonWinter Trophic stateEutrophic Typical clarity6 ft Water quality gradeD Elevation1,135 ft Managing authorityMichigan EGLE

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityMichigan EGLE Wake / speed rulesNo-wake near shore
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Michigan EGLE that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Roscommon County

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$215,000
Median waterfront
$5,725
Per shoreline foot
+6.9%
Year over year
275
Est. inventory
110
Avg days on market
$704
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy46% Booked nights / yr121 Gross revenue$92,094 Net operating income$46,737 Yield on median price21.74%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Houghton Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$2,196
All-in per month
$51,410
Cash to close + setup
$9,105
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$26,356 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $13,594 (55%) Utilities $2,700 (11%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $2,365 (9%) Property taxes $2,258 (9%) Hazard insurance $1,400 (6%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (4%) Dock maintenance $900 (4%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (3%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$13,594
Property taxes$2,258
Hazard insurance$1,400
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$2,365
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$26,356
Model your own numbers →

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