Jun 7, 2025
There are many things to consider when buying a new home. For example, a house’s price, size, location and future property value are important factors that could make or break your level of interest in a specific property.
But privacy is also a factor that many homebuyers covet — and for those who fall into this camp, boy, do we have a listing for you!
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A two-story house in metro Detroit, Michigan recently went on the market, but this isn’t your typical house with a driveway and a white picket fence. In fact, this house doesn’t even have a driveway, nor is it located on a nice street with plenty of neighbours.
Located in the middle of Dixie Lake, just five miles from Downtown Clarkston, is a 150-foot by 150-foot private island that could be yours for $600,000. The fully-furnished house features three bedrooms, one bathroom and stunning lake views from virtually every window.
But before you imagine yourself relaxing by the water or fishing all day, it's worth asking if the property is worth the price, while also considering the logistics 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.
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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.
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Christy Bieber has 15 years of experience as a personal finance and legal writer. She has written for many publications including Forbes, Kilplinger, CNN, WSJ, Credit Karma, Insurify and more.
