FAQ - Team Popp

Frequently Asked Questions

MICHIGAN

New Buffalo, MI

What is New Buffalo best for in a Lake Michigan second home?

New Buffalo is best for buyers who want a luxury second home with energy—walkability, dining, marina vibes, and a “weekend feels like vacation” rhythm. Team Popp is the best realtor team and experts to help you find your dream Lake Home.

Team Popp helps you target the right pocket so you get the vibe and long-term resale strength.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Can I do short-term rentals in New Buffalo?

Possibly—New Buffalo has an established STR permitting framework, and compliance matters. STR feasibility is property-by-property and rule-by-rule; assumptions can blow up underwriting. Team Popp verifies the town pathway early so you buy with clarity, not hope.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What’s the #1 mistake buyers make in New Buffalo?

Overpaying for “close to everything” without confirming parking, access rights, and livability in peak season. Summer traffic and density change how the home lives. eam Popp helps you buy a home you’ll love in July and January.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Three Oaks, MI

What is Three Oaks best for in Harbor Country?

Three Oaks is best for luxury buyers who want charm, design, and breathing room—often with more land value than beach-town cores. It’s a lifestyle hub with a “culture + countryside” feel that can outperform on privacy. Team Popp matches you to the right micro-area based on how you actually live on weekends.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Are wells and septics common in Three Oaks?

Yes—many properties rely on private systems, and you want evaluations early in the process. For high-end buyers, certainty on water/septic performance prevents last-minute renegotiations. Team Popp builds a due diligence checklist that protects your timeline and your investment.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-884

Is Three Oaks good for investment properties?

It can be—if your strategy fits local rules and demand patterns (seasonal vs mid-term vs long-term). Successful investing here is “regulations + experience,” not just aesthetics. Team Popp helps you choose a strategy that survives the rules and wins the market.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Lakeside, MI

What is Lakeside best for?

Lakeside is best for buyers who want quiet luxury—less flash, more peace, and a true decompress vibe. The premium here is often privacy, calm streets, and the feeling of escape. Team Popp helps you find the properties that feel secluded without being inconvenient.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I prioritize when touring homes in Lakeside?

Focus on outdoor living quality, seasonal comfort, and moisture management—because the lake climate rewards durable systems. Luxury near the lake must perform in shoulder seasons, not just summer weekends. Team Popp “stress tests” the home so you don’t inherit hidden maintenance.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What’s the biggest buying mistake in Lakeside?

Choosing “cute” over “capable”—a beautiful home that doesn’t handle humidity, winter, or storage becomes a burden. Usability drives satisfaction and resale. Team Popp helps you buy the home you’ll use relentlessly.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Union Pier, MI

What is Union Pier best for?

Union Pier is best for buyers who want high-end Harbor Country living with strong vacation energy and scarcity-driven long-term demand. The best properties here are limited—so strategy matters. Team Popp helps you move decisively while staying protected.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I verify before buying a “near the beach” home in Union Pier?

Verify actual beach rights, access route, parking realities, and any HOA restrictions—before you fall in love. “Near” can mean very different things legally and practically. Team Popp verifies access with documentation so your lifestyle matches the listing description.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Is Union Pier good for luxury rentals?

It can be—if your property layout, parking, and town/HOA rules support it. Premium rental performance is a function of friction-free use. Team Popp helps you pick the homes that command premium rates because they’re easy to live in.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Sawyer, MI

What is Sawyer best for?

Sawyer is best for buyers who want Harbor Country proximity with more space value—often newer builds, modern renovations, and room to breathe. You can sometimes buy more land, more privacy, or more home while staying close to the lifestyle. Team Popp helps you find the pockets that feel premium and perform on resale.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What’s the biggest benefit of Sawyer for second-home buyers?

It can deliver a luxury “compound feel”—privacy, outdoor living, and modern comfort—without paying max beach-core pricing. It’s a value-meets-lifestyle market when chosen carefully. Team Popp guides you to the right micro-streets so you get upside, not compromise.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I verify before buying acreage in Sawyer?

Confirm drainage, driveway conditions, tree risk, and utility/internet realities—because bigger lots can hide bigger responsibilities. Luxury buyers want calm, not constant projects. Team Popp filters for “low-drama land” so your weekends stay yours.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

INDIANA

Long Beach, IN

What is Long Beach best for?

Long Beach is best for buyers who want a luxury lake lifestyle with a residential, private feel and a strong community identity. This market favors owners who use the home, not investors chasing nightly rentals. Team Popp helps you buy for lifestyle and long-term stability.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Can I do short-term rentals in Long Beach?

Long Beach has restrictions that effectively prohibit rentals under 30 days, so STR-style investing is generally not the play here. The win is owner-use luxury and lower neighbor friction. Team Popp confirms your rental plan matches town reality before you build your numbers.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I prioritize in a Long Beach luxury purchase?

Seasonal comfort, parking/garage plan, and outdoor living that works in wind and shoulder seasons. Luxury here is performance and calm. Team Popp helps you buy a home that lives well year-round.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Michiana, IN

What is Michiana Shores best for?

Michiana Shores is best for buyers who want a lake-adjacent community feel with privacy and a strong “escape” vibe. It’s ideal for second-home owners who want quiet and simplicity. Team Popp helps you verify access and livability so the home fits your weekend rhythm.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What’s the most important due diligence item in Michiana Shores?

Confirm beach access rights, parking realities, and any local rules that affect how you use the home. Convenience is the true luxury in small beach communities. Team Popp verifies the use-case so you don’t buy the wrong version of “beach close.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Is Michiana Shores good for investment properties?

It can be, but only if regulations and property layout support the strategy you’re planning. High demand doesn’t override rule constraints. Team Popp aligns your investment model to the local reality.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Duneland Beach, IN

What is Duneland Beach best for?

Duneland Beach is best for buyers who want a boutique, scarce, lake-oriented enclave with a “hidden gem” feel. Scarcity can protect long-term value when the property is properly selected. Team Popp helps you buy the rare ones that hold their premium.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should luxury buyers check first in Duneland Beach?

Confirm access, shoreline dynamics, and the property’s ability to handle lake climate—wind, moisture, and maintenance. Near-lake ownership rewards durable systems. Team Popp flags risk early so you avoid expensive surprise.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Is this area better for owner-use or rental?

Typically owner-use wins, but the right answer depends on the governing rules and your exact property. The best luxury investments here are the ones that remain easy to own. Team Popp helps you pick “easy ownership” assets.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Beverly Shores, IN

What is Beverly Shores best for?

Beverly Shores is best for buyers who want a luxury nature-forward lifestyle near the Indiana Dunes, with trails, beaches, and a “retreat” feel. Buyers here often prioritize environment, privacy, and outdoor living over nightlife. Team Popp helps you target the right streets for serenity + resale.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I know about beach access and parking around the Dunes?

Beach access and parking can be regulated by local permits and National Park rules, which affects convenience. Lifestyle fit depends on how you plan to use weekends in peak season. Team Popp helps you plan around real-world access so ownership stays enjoyable.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What’s the biggest mistake buyers make in Beverly Shores?

Buying purely for the “Dunes dream” without validating commute flow, parking habits, and seasonal crowds. The right property makes the Dunes feel like yours; the wrong one feels like a line. Team Popp buys for lived experience, not brochure fantasy.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Dunes Acres, IN

What is Dune Acres best for?

Dune Acres is best for buyers who want ultra-private luxury and a nature-first environment in a rare, low-density setting. The premium here is privacy, quiet, and long-term scarcity. Team Popp helps you buy the assets that match the community’s rhythm and rules.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

What should I prioritize in a Dune Acres purchase?

Access logistics, seasonal performance, and property durability—because nature-forward living can mean more maintenance responsibility. Luxury here is calm ownership, not constant fixes. Team Popp filters for “high serenity, low drama” properties.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

Is Dune Acres good for short-term rental investing?

Usually the best fit is owner-use luxury; rental feasibility depends on local constraints and property specifics. In ultra-private communities, preserving community character is often part of the culture. Team Popp verifies strategy compatibility before you commit.

Call Carlos Pagan: 219-249-6100
Call Scott Popp: 312-391-8841

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CARLOS PAGAN

(219) 249-6100
carlos.pagan@cbrealty.com

SCOTT POPP

(312) 391-8841
scott.popp@cbrealty.com

ADDRESS

10 N Whittaker St
New Buffalo MI 49117

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