Michigan Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Sylvan Lake, Michigan

Population: 1,735

Located in Oakland County

So you're looking for a town with affordable housing, beauty, lakes, nature trails, good shopping and close to major freeways - look no further than Sylvan Lake located in the heart of Oakland County.

As the name indicates, Sylvan Lake is on a lake, and is in fact surrounded by lakes. Jokingly known as the "Lake District" Sylvan Lake is one of hundreds of lakes in Oakland County. There are several places in these lakes to launch boats, there is great fishing and at the end of a busy day at the lake there are plenty of good restaurants to relax and unwind.

Over the last ten years Sylvan Lake has enjoyed a growth spurt from a sleepy vacation town to a bustling area, as new residents move from the more crowded urban areas of Detroit. Located 10 minutes from major highways that lead to Detroit and other cities where most industry takes place, Sylvan Lake is an attractive alternative to those people who want a slice of country living but need to be close to their work place. Sylvan Lake is also close to many other communities, including Pontiac, Commerce, Highland and Waterford.

Sylvan Lake is an affordable place to live, with houses ranging from $100,000 up into the millions. Most houses are either on lakes, or have lake access. Many homes were originally summer vacation cottages and so Sylvan Lake has retained an "olde world" charm. There are many new constructions, but they have melded well with the existing architecture.

Dirt roads intermingle with larger cement roads, but Sylvan Lake has retained a sense of country, and it is not unusual to see horses cantering around a field, and behind many of the newer subdivisions are pockets of rural areas, with old farmhouses. Some of them have retained the big, red barns.

If trail walking is your idea of a great afternoon out, then you have to look no further you're your back yard! Even the newer sub-divisions have been built with a "nature first" thrust. Deer stroll across the backyards, and it is common to see fox prints in the early morning snow.

If shopping is your thing, then look no further than Sylvan Lake. Located 15 minutes from Sylvan Lake is either Novi and its famed 12 Oaks Mall and surrounding Town Center; or Milford, with its beautiful downtown area with its specialty stores which cater to a variety of tastes, from antique furniture to doll restoration to wonderful bakeries. Also nearby is Summit Place Mall, a smaller, more intimate mall in Waterford, and about 10 minutes from most homes in Sylvan Lake.

Sylvan Lake, Michigan