If you take the winters away (please do) we have a great area here. I live within 15 minutes of Lake Michigan, the Grand River is in my backyard, I live on 4 wooded acres, over 2k sq ft L/S, I paid $106k 6 years ago. Grand rapids (good nightlife) is 15 minutes the otherway. We have great wineries in the north, plenty of large inland lakes, etc... Freak show homes (4k sq')on water here go for $500,000 or less. Then again we have detroit
Most of us never go there.