Dreaming of a personal oasis … in metro Detroit? This $600K home on a private island is up for sale — but even the dazzling lake views might not justify the pricey reality of island life

Is owning an island worth the $600K price tag?

Private island homes in the metro Detroit area are, perhaps unsurprisingly, few and far between. In fact, the listing agent for this island property said it was her first.

As a result, determining whether the $600,000 price tag is appropriate can be tricky. The home’s listing price is on the high side, given that the median price of a property in Detroit is just $109,000, according to Realtor.com.

Of course, anyone who purchases this property will be getting much more than just a plain-old house. At 150-feet by 150-feet, the island is a little more than half an acre in size, and living on an island provides a level of privacy that many other houses in the area just can't offer.

So while this property is unique, it's clear that the cost is on the upper end of the scale, and the house itself is not exactly a mansion. Most of the cost of this property stems from its unique location in the middle of the water.

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Consider the logistics before buying an island home

Even if the price tag doesn't scare you off, you still need to consider the viability of living on an island.

While Dixie Lake is less than an hour away from downtown Detroit, you'll need to cross a body of water to get to and from the mainland. This may seem fine in the summer, but the cold winters can make this commute a lot tougher and much less enjoyable.

According to a neighbor, the current owners have to use an airboat, or hovercraft, to access their home in the winter. In case you’re wondering, a new airboat can cost between $40,000 and $400,000, depending on how fancy you get, according to Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures.

If you fancy privacy and are confident this island can provide it, this property may be worth the price tag, as well as any other necessary costs such as the airboat.

However, you’ll need to be sure that you can cope with the financial and practical costs of living the island life — which will include having to boat into town for your groceries, medical appointments and anything else located on the mainland. Isolating yourself on a secluded island may not sound as fun once you take these factors into account.