If you've recently joined the ranks of lake home or lake cabin owners, you're not alone. Just take a drive around almost any lake in the upper Midwest, and there's a good chance it will be dotted with lake homes and cabins.

Fewer cabins that are older and small occupy lakes today. More and more small cabins are being torn down to build bigger cabins or multi-million-dollar homes.

What's fueling the rush to the lakes? Why are people so interested in finding or building that perfect lake home?

REASONS ABOUND
Cheryl Larson, a realtor with Mille Lacs Realty in Isle, Minn., believes the growing popularity is due to any number of reasons. "I think we're just better off than in the past and can more easily afford to purchase a second home or a cabin," she said. "And most people who went to cabins earlier in their lives enjoyed themselves and now want to re-create that for their family."

With today's busy lifestyles, a cabin can mean relaxation, family times and getting back to nature. "For me, I can just look at the lake and feel how it soothes me," Larson said. "Who doesn't enjoy the multi-colors of a sunset on a calm body of water or taking a jump off the dock? I believe there's no better place to entertain family and friends than at the lake."

In addition, as the baby boomers age, they're thinking about what they want for retirement. For some, that means buying lake property today.

While other investments can show wide "mood swings," as Larson described them, lakeshore is an attractive real estate investment. "The easiest is to purchase a lake lot or a small cabin. That way, buyers have less maintenance and cost involved in holding the investment. At least during the term of ownership, there is some use and enjoyment with the property."

THE PERFECT FAMILY RETREAT
Adele Butenas, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Backstrom and Associates, Pelican Rapids, Minn., looks at the growing interest in lake homes from a personal point of view. She and her family have a lake home they open each April. They stay there on the weekends until school lets out, and then it becomes the family's home base during the summer.

"We all live in the same house and it is the same lake, but it offers something different to each of us," she said. "At the end of my husband's work day, he can't wait to go fishing. Our youngest, who is 13, loves to fish. He and my husband spend many evenings together fishing. I don't know if they talk much, but they share a common love of the sport."

When Butenas joins them on the lake, it generally is on the family pontoon. She typically brings a book and a pillow. Besides reading, she enjoys the onboard family conversations.

Her 16-year-old daughter loves to swim, sunbathe and play with her dog. "They sit lakeside for hours just goofing off," she said. Butenas' children frequently have friends visit their lake home, and she appreciates the added benefit of knowing what they are doing.

"For me, I am happy just to sit and enjoy the serenity of the lake. We blended eight children and, during the winter months, we can go long periods of time without actually seeing them. During the summer, it's a different story. We all get together and have fun just doing the simple things. It doesn't matter whether you are seven or 70; the lake has something to offer you."

"For those reasons, first and foremost, I believe people want lakeshore property. Retreating to the lake has happened for generations. They probably did it for the same reasons years ago as we do today. It offers something for the entire family."

When people seek Butenas' assistance in finding a cottage or home, or a bare lot, they almost always talk about their family's needs. "So I guess in a society that has become as fast paced as ours, it is the opportunity we all seek to hide away for a while."

Besides being an ideal location for a family, buying lakeshore is a sound investment. As Butenas said, "I have watched my 401(k) shrink and we've all read the horror stories of lost fortunes in the markets, but lakeshore real estate continues to grow in value at a rate that is sometimes hard to comprehend."

By Barb Umberger