Waterfront Lifestyles-Small Town and Country Living on the Lakes in Northeast Indiana

Dallas Lake in Wolcottville, is a ski lake on the Indian Chain of 5 Lakes which includes: Witmer Lake, Westler Lake, Hackenberg Lake and Messick Lake. You will find seasonal cottages and year round homes side by side in the different "little neighborhoods" around the lake. The Dallas Lake Association plans events on and off the lake to give the residents opportunities to socialize. Residents on the lake are served by two different LaGrange County school districts, based on where they live. In general, those on the west side of the lake attend Westview Schools and those on the east side of the lake attend Lakeland Schools. Dallas Lake Park is a 96 acre public park on the south shore of the lake. There is a swimming beach with lifeguards, and beautiful wetlands to observe nature.

Dallas Lake is a 283 acre all sports lake with a maximum depth of 96 feet with clear water, sandy swim beaches and a sandbar. Popular fish in the lake include: bluegill, crappies, largemouth bass, and sunfish. There isn't a public access, but the lake is accessible via channels from Messick Lake, Witmer Lake and Westler Lake.

You've been thinking about buying a place on the lake and you're not sure where to start. Here are a few things to consider in your hunt for your new lake home or cottage:

• Type of Waterfront? Lake or channel? Lakefront is usually preferred, but a channelfront location is more affordable and can be quieter.
• Do you want a swimming area out front? Do you just want to jump in the boat and go enjoy the lake, or do you want a sandy swimming beach? How deep do you want the water to be? Do you want a natural frontage or a seawall?
• What type of lake bottom do you prefer? It can range from sand to muck depending on the lake and the location on the lake.
• Do you want to be on a ski (speedboat) lake? If you want to pull tubers or ride a jet ski you will want to be on an all sports lake.
• Does the lake have restricted speed hours? Some lakes have hours when high speeds are not permitted so everyone has a chance to enjoy their favorite lake activities.
• Do you prefer a quieter lake just for fishing? Most fishing lakes will allow you to cruise in a pontoon, but you won't have the roar of speedboats and jet skis.
• How about a chain of lakes that offers both? Some folks like to live on one type of lake and have the option to "visit" the others for a change of pace.
• Will you live year round at the lake? Make sure the place is insulated for year round use. I can also give you information about our local schools.
• Will this just be a seasonal or vacation cottage? You'll need to make arrangements to winterize the cottage so pipes don't freeze and find someone to take car of the lawn when you're away.
• How far are you willing to drive? We are less than an hour from Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Portage and South Bend. And in a few hours you can be here from Chicago, Lansing, Toledo, or Indianapolis.
• Do you need a level lot or will stairs be okay? You should also consider how many stories are in the home or cottage.
• Proximity to stores, restaurants and entertainment?
• How much room for parking and guests? One thing you can count on when you make a move to the lake is that people will want to visit. Do you have room for them to park? Do you want (or not want) room for overnight guests?

These are just a few of the more common questions and concerns my buyers have had. Searching online is a great way to start. You can get an idea of what is available in your price range. I would be happy to email you the listings that may work for you and sign you up for an "instant alert" that will let you know as soon as a new listing is put on the market by any agent or firm in our area. If you find a place you're interested in, I can answer your questions and show you any of the homes and cottages you want to see listed by any agent or firm in Northeast Indiana.

LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity Annual Auction in Shipshewana August 7-8

Friday Evening:  Haystack Supper & Ice Cream begin at 4:30

The Wasepi Bluegrass Gospel Singers in concert at 6:30

Preview the auction items on Friday

Saturday Morning: Pancake & Sausage Breakfast starts at 6:00

The Auction begins at 9:00.

The sandwich line opens at 10:30

Auction items include handcrafted furniture, and quilts, tools, gift certificates and more. For more information about auction items, pictures of past events, a printable map and information about our organization visit the LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity website.

First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit- Frequently Asked ?'s

RE/MAX Results Wolcottville is Holding 5 Lake Open Houses on Dallas Lake and Witmer Lake on Sunday August 2nd from 2-4

Our agents are holding houses open on the Indian Chain of Lakes. Lakes in this chain include Dallas Lake, Witmer Lake, Westler Lake, Hackenberg Lake and Messick Lake.  Dallas Lake and Witmer Lake are all sports lakes.

I will be at my listing on Dallas Lake so stop in and see what this home has to offer. I will have maps to the other homes on the open house tour. The MLS #'s for all of the open houses are: 61329, 62485, 62887, 57766, 61325 and you can get details and directions by Searching the MLS here.