Business Details
41 Years
experience
Your Trusted Real Estate Partner in Southwest Michigan
Founded in 1985, Lakes & Country Real Estate has established itself as a trusted leader in Southwest Michigan's real estate market. Our company was built on the vision of providing specialized expertise in lakefront and country properties, addressing underserved rural areas that require nuanced market knowledge. Since our rebranding in 2014 under new ownership, we've expanded our reach while maintaining our flagship office in Bloomingdale and opening a main office in Paw Paw. Our agents operate as client partners throughout the transaction process, offering guidance that extends beyond property sales to include post-closing support.We serve a diverse clientele ranging from local residents to out-of-state buyers seeking vacation homes, with a particular focus on properties within a three-hour radius of Chicago. Our team's deep understanding of regional lake ecosystems and land development considerations enables us to provide tailored advice about property suitability, market positioning, and long-term value. This specialized knowledge, combined with our commitment to personalized service, has resulted in numerous rapid sales and satisfied clients who frequently return for future transactions.
Services
Lakefront Property Sales
Land Transactions
Residential Real Estate
Vacation Home Sales
Real Estate Consultation
Details
- Year established: 1985
Highlights and features
- We offer 40 years of specialized expertise in Southwest Michigan real estate
- Our agents provide personalized, consultative approach to real estate transactions
- We maintain deep local market knowledge across 30+ lake communities
- Our team handles both residential and land transactions with equal expertise
- We provide comprehensive support from initial consultation through post-closing
What people say
Experts in lake home sales
Best experience with Mandy Morgan
Perfect home found by Gala
Outstanding market knowledge
Seamless transaction process
Services
Lakefront Property Sales
Specializing in Southwest Michigan's lakefront properties, we help clients buy and sell homes on over 30 regional lakes. Our agents understand water-related considerations like depth, acreage, and access. With decades of experience, we've facilitated numerous rapid sales, including a recent lake home sold in 4 days with multiple offers.
Land Transactions
We handle land purchases and sales for development, hunting, or building purposes. Our team connects clients with surveyors, soil testers, and utility experts to assess property viability. This specialized service requires different expertise than residential sales, which we've perfected over 40 years in Southwest Michigan's rural markets.
Residential Real Estate
From first-time buyers to investment portfolios, we manage residential transactions with personalized guidance. Our agents assist with market analysis, negotiation, and closing processes. Recent clients praised our ability to find perfect matches, including one family who purchased their dream home after a year-long search with our team.
Vacation Home Sales
We specialize in connecting out-of-state buyers with Michigan vacation properties. Our agents understand seasonal considerations and investment potential. A recent client successfully sold their lake cottage in 4 days while receiving multiple premium offers through our targeted marketing strategies.
Real Estate Consultation
Beyond transactions, we offer expert consultation about property positioning, market trends, and investment potential. Our team provides comparative market analyses and development guidance. Clients appreciate our consultative approach that extends beyond standard real estate services to include long-term ownership considerations.
People
Janis Havice
Owner / Broker / Realtor
With over 40 years in real estate, Janis Havice brings deep market knowledge and leadership to Lakes & Country Real Estate. Her expertise in Southwest Michigan properties has resulted in numerous rapid sales and satisfied clients.
Mandy Morgan
Realtor
Recognized for exceptional client service, Mandy Morgan specializes in matching buyers with perfect properties. Her recent success includes helping clients transition from land ownership to finding ideal existing homes.
Gala Rock
Realtor
Known for her market expertise and responsiveness, Gala Rock recently facilitated a property purchase within one month through effective communication and negotiation skills.
Shana Pflibsen
Realtor
With a patient approach and market knowledge, Shana Pflibsen successfully helped a client find their ideal property after a year-long search, navigating multiple transaction challenges.
Trish Downard
Associate Broker
As an experienced associate broker with SRS and RENE designations, Trish Downard provides expert guidance in real estate transactions, combining professional credentials with local market insights.
Questions
What types of properties do you specialize in?
We specialize in lakefront properties, country estates, residential homes, and land transactions across Southwest Michigan.
How do you help buyers find the right property?
Our agents use personalized consultations to understand client needs, then leverage local market expertise to identify suitable properties.
What services do you offer to sellers?
We provide pricing strategy, professional staging, marketing, and negotiation services to maximize property value and sale speed.
Do you work with out-of-state buyers?
Yes, we frequently assist out-of-state clients seeking vacation homes in Southwest Michigan's lake communities.
How do you handle land transactions?
We connect clients with qualified vendors for surveys, soil testing, and development planning to ensure land suitability for intended use.
Reviews (5)
Rich Newberry
Nov 03, 2021
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Professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy are just a few choice words that describe the talented staff here.
J.
Jul 18, 2021
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We called to inquire about selling our home. We really weren't even serious but with the housing market improving thought we would see where we were. They sent someone right out to give us an estimated selling price. The price they gave was EXACTLY THE SAME PRICE THAT ZILLOW HAD BTW, which seemed too good to be true. We decided to proceed. They next sent Michelle out to get us to sign the sellers agreement. Michelle then informed us that the selling price was too high and we would need to reduce it by $40,000 dollars. She said at that price (the price that we were told initially which was the same
David Downard
Dec 20, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Trish was very helpful, as was all the staff when Trish had to be out of town. We were always treated with respect and honesty as home buyers. Well done Lakes and Country.
Trish was very helpful, as was all the staff when Trish had to be out of town. We were always treated with respect and honesty as home buyers. Well done Lakes and Country.
Karen Downard
Dec 10, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
With a short amount of time to find a home in a very competitive housing market, Trish Downard worked tirelessly to help us find our new home. From showing us pre-listed properties to introducing us to builders, she always found creative solutions to meet our needs.
With a short amount of time to find a home in a very competitive housing market, Trish Downard worked tirelessly to help us find our new home. From showing us pre-listed properties to introducing us to builders, she always found creative solutions to meet our needs.
Bart Kubera
Nov 14, 2019
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Very professional great people to work with Trish was my realtor absolutely love her also had my closing their could not ask for anything better
