Buying a Home on Bertha Lake: What to Check
On Bertha, two homes a few hundred feet apart can sit on very different water, so walk the shoreline before you fall for the kitchen.
Buying on a lake is part real estate and part reading the water. Bertha Lake rewards buyers who take the time to do both. It is 337 acres and 64 feet deep, with clear water and a hard bottom across much of the main basin, but its soft southern and eastern bays tell a different story. Here is how to look at a property on Bertha with clear eyes.
Want help finding the right stretch of Bertha shoreline? Start on the buyer's page.
1. Frontage and bottom type
The DNR's vegetation survey describes Bertha's main lake bottom as mostly sand, gravel and rubble. The two southern bays and the east bay are softer, with muck and silt and beds of waterlilies. If you picture wading in from the dock, ask to see the bottom in person, ideally in summer. Look at the length of the frontage, how much of it is usable, and whether the lot faces open water or a bay.
2. Depth off the dock
Bertha's depth is concentrated in its main basin, while most plant growth occurs in water 10 feet or shallower. Some lots reach boat-lift depth quickly; others have a long, shallow approach. Ask how long a dock the current owner runs, whether it is seasonal or permanent, and where the lift sits. If you plan to keep a larger boat, measure the water at the end of the dock rather than trusting a listing photo.
3. Exposure and sun
On a lake shaped like Bertha, exposure changes a lot from one shore to the next. A lot facing west or southwest brings long evening light and more wind and wave action. A lot tucked into a bay is calmer and may be shadier. Neither is better in the abstract. Decide whether you want sunsets on the deck or quiet water at the dock, then look at lots that match.
4. Septic and shoreland rules
Most homes on Bertha rely on private septic systems. Before you close, ask for the system's records and its compliance status. In Crow Wing County, the Land Services department issues land use permits and shoreland alteration permits for work such as additions, decks, retaining walls, beaches and stairways, and it sets structure setbacks from the ordinary high-water level based on how the lake is classified. Properties inside incorporated cities follow that city's own rules instead; the City of Crosslake, for example, has its own land use ordinance, impervious surface limits and septic requirements for permits.
Confirm which office has jurisdiction over the parcel you are considering, and ask the right office for the lake's shoreland classification and setbacks. If you dream of an addition, a new garage or a bigger deck, get answers about what can be built before you write an offer, not after.
5. Wake, channels and boat traffic
Bertha has no public boat launch. Boats reach it by navigable channel from Whitefish Lake to the north and from Clamshell Lake to the east, according to the DNR. Homes near a channel mouth will see more passing traffic on summer weekends; homes on the far side of the basin feel more removed. Spend an hour on the deck on a Saturday afternoon and on a weekday evening before you decide. Observe posted buoys in the channels and narrows.
6. Winter road and year-round use
If you plan to use the home in winter, ask whether the road is publicly maintained or private, who plows it, and how the driveway handles snow and grade. Check the heating system, insulation and water lines with a year-round inspector. A seasonal cabin can be a joy, but it should be bought as one.
7. Lake health and invasive species
Bertha is designated as infested with zebra mussels. Ask about the condition of the lift, dock legs and water intake lines. The DNR found no non-native aquatic plants in its 2011 survey, and native shoreline plants help keep the water clear. A natural shoreline is an asset here, not a project to clear.
A note on the inspection
As a 4th-generation builder as well as a broker, I look at lake homes with a builder's eye: the foundation and grading toward the water, the roof, the well, the septic and the condition of the shoreline structures. Bring a qualified inspector, and walk the lot with someone who knows lake property.
Questions
Does Bertha Lake have a public boat launch?
No. The DNR lists access to Bertha by channel from Whitefish Lake and from Clamshell Lake. Clamshell has a public U.S. Army Corps of Engineers access.
Who issues building permits for a home on Bertha Lake?
It depends on where the parcel sits. Crow Wing County Land Services handles land use and shoreland permits outside incorporated cities, and cities such as Crosslake administer their own ordinances. Confirm jurisdiction for the specific parcel.
What should I ask about septic on a Bertha Lake home?
Ask for the system's records, age and compliance status. Both Crow Wing County and the City of Crosslake can require septic information when you apply for a land use permit.
Keep reading
See what living on Bertha Lake is like, read the Bertha fishing guide, compare neighboring Clamshell Lake, or return to the Bertha Lake guide.
I am David Olson, a broker and 4th-generation builder with a family cabin on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake. When you are ready to look at homes on Bertha, call or text 218.513.2677 or email david@whitefishpropertyfinder.com, or start on the buyer's page.
Sources: MN DNR aquatic vegetation report, Bertha Lake; MN DNR LakeFinder data, Bertha Lake; Crow Wing County Land Use Permits FAQ; City of Crosslake land use fact sheet; MN DNR shoreland classifications.