Creating an Unforgettable Airbnb in Northern Michigan

Hi everyone - welcome to our blog! We are excited to share the start of our journey in building a one-of-a-kind vacation rental cabin in Northern Michigan. In this blog post, we'll outline our plans, introduce ourselves in more detail, and talk about our future plans for this blog!

About Us.

We're Hunter and Derrik. We met in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2014 and have been married since 2021. Hunter is an avid traveler who couch-surfed her way through Europe and has traveled to 50+ countries. She loves venturing outside her comfort zone, a good adrenaline rush, and is willing to try just about anything. Hunter prefers animals over people and would have a backyard filled with alpacas and muskox if Derrik let her.

Derrik is a CPA who used to work in public accounting, but came to quick realization that being locked in a dark room working 70 hour work weeks were not for him. In 2020. he started his own Youtube channel teaching guitar lessons and now works in social media analytics and content promotion. He is an avid outdoorsman, analytics junkie, and has developed a love for video editing and camera gear.

Together we have two dogs - Memphis and Tully - who are our whole entire world.

Why Northern Michigan.

For countless Michiganders, the timeless allure of heading "Up North" has become an integral part of their lives. Bellaire, Michigan, holds a special place in our hearts having been our cherished second home for nearly five years now. Every time we made the trip, we couldn't help but dream of one day building a cabin here – it's been our ultimate aspiration.

Around 2019 and 2020, we started seriously thinking and planning about turning this dream into reality. Airbnb was gaining popularity, and we noticed more and more people, who had never been to this area before, buying old houses, fixing them up, and listing them on the platform. It got us thinking about the possibilities. For many homeowners, Airbnb offered a chance to make some extra cash and own a cozy getaway "Up North." But for us, it's not just about making money; it's about sharing the beauty of Northern Michigan and what it means to us on a personal level. Our hearts are deeply connected to this place, and we want to offer others the opportunity to experience the same awe-inspiring landscapes that have captured our hearts. We got married here, both our dogs are born here, and it's truly a place that is special to us and our family.

Make It Official.

In 2021, we took the plunge and acquired a sizable plot of land close to the village of Bellaire and all of the beautiful lakes this area has to offer. With big eyes and heavy dreams, we started meeting with builders, only for them to ghost us and never hear from them again (more about this in a future post).

We didn't know it at the time, but it would take us over 2 years to finally break ground and make this dream a reality. Uncertainties with the economy, builders quote absurdly high prices and many other factors led to that, but in hindsight, we're thankful things worked out the way they did. We've learned invaluable lessons along the way and as the Airbnb landscape evolves,  particularly in terms of navigating the market's dynamics, our deliberate choice to construct a custom cabin instead of purchasing an existing property stems from our desire to offer a unique experience that stands out among the competition.

Going Forward.

We are committed to sharing our story with you every step of the way - the highs and lows. Through a series of blog posts, we will delve into the past two years, covering topics such as financing, land acquisition, and more. Once construction commences, we will provide regular updates, documenting the progress of our cabin and sharing insights into our financial considerations.

We've made many mistakes. And we're sure that we'll make many more along the way. But we are committed to sharing the lessons we learn with you if you are potentially considering doing something similar. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we bring our dream of creating an unforgettable vacation rental experience in Northern Michigan to life. We're excited to share every aspect of this process with you. Stay tuned for the adventures, challenges, and notable milestones that will shape our dream cabin. Your support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing the next chapter of our journey with you soon!

Watch our full youtube announcement video here: https://youtu.be/_y978Bchmv0