If you are a reader of Cabin Life Magazine you may be thinking about buying or building your new Lake Home!! Finding a lake or a lake community near by is advantageous in my opinion. The closer you are to your get-a-way the more often you'll find the time to get-a-way. If you are looking at a lake community determine the Home Owner Association Fees, weigh them against the ammenities. Is there a marina, activities for the kids and adults, a private security force, true lake and community management. Our lake has a private beach with lifeguards, tennis courts, basketball courts, horseshoe and driving range , a playground and archery range just to name a few. In a community similar to this home owner fees may be costly. If you find the lake or private lake of your dream half of the search is over. The next step is finding a lot for your home or an existing home site on or near the lake. This is what we will concentrate on for this post. Choosing a lake lot is more complicated than choosing a standard building lot.
Your first piece of knowledge comes as you discover there are three types of lots to be found in a lake community waterfront, water access, and water view. What seems apparant to some may not be as apparant to others. Waterfront actually touches the water. Water access gives you access though it is not direct from your lot, this could mean a community access area. Waterview could be any lot with a view of the water including a hillside 750 feet away from the lake. Your decision on these types of lots is crucial as you may be there for a long time. Keep in mind that HOA Fees are the same for everyone regardless of location , the only difference in cost is usually the number of lots. Usually adjacent lots cost a set fee per lot.
The prime lake lots are waterfront, these lots have their own water frontage, and are the most expensive. The best of the lake is right in front of your deck, private dock and home. If waterfront is for you, you should consider the placement . Being in the wake zone is completely different from being in the no-wake zone. Being in a cove is different from being on the lake. If you like to swim then no wake or cove may be your best choice. If you love seeing the ACTION wake zone is the only way to go. Ask about the water depth, if you have small children or non-swimmers depths of 35 feet off your dock may not be ideal. Next consider the soil under that water , what does it consist of and is it what you would enjoy. Last consideration , and probably the least thought of is simply this.... Additional maintenance costs rip rap, dock, lot and home appearance. Remember if you are Lake Front your home and lot is seen by everyone, the Home Owner Association will keep you informed if it is lagging in anyway.
Lakefront isn’t for everyone, it has its advantages but water access does as well. These lots are the least expensive, and usually the most private. Many water access lots include common areas for lake access, recreation facilities and some even have individual boat slips available at the marina or other community docking areas. Less upfront cost, less maintenance and less scrutiny of your propery is important for the weekend type owners who are thinking Cabin not Lake Home.
Water View lot typically has no direct access to the lake, but is high enough to have a superb lake view. For those who can keep a boat in a nearby marina, this may be just the solution that fits their needs and the budget. Some water view lots may also be water access lots. The biggest advantage here is the water view without the noise of the speed boats and pwc's.
Keep in mind ,no matter what lot you choose to live on, you are a caretaker to the Lake. Always and I mean always, make the Lake your first concern, even above your own home. If you are not a care taker of the lake and it falls into disarray your home and property value is worth nothing. We do not own the lake we are just borrowing it from our chidren and future generations, It is our duty to pass it on in a more pristine condition than when we found it.
I hope this helps those who dream of lake living, for I can tell you now that my dream is realized ...... Lake Living is The Best Living!!
Wow, PGHPA611 -- what a great and relevant post! It's chock full of precisely the kinds of things I'll need to evaluate....thanks!!!
If you do have a waterfront place, how do you attract the right buyers? Any advice from anone would be encouraging & helpful right now...thanks in advance.
First and most importantly allow me to say that I am not a realtor, though I am quite familiar with sales and marketting. The need and speed of a sale should always be taken into consideration. Selling a home FSBO (For Sale By Owner) has inherent positive and negative aspects, especially if you are limited on time and sales ability. While saying that there is nothing worse than listing a house with the typical listing realtor who just places the sign on your property and you in the multi-list book waiting for a true agent to sale your property. Look for an aggresive sales agent who thinks outside the box, a firm not reluctant to spend some money on ads, maybe they can do a spot for their Sunday TV Real Estate Show attracting attention. For me I like doing things myself, letting the Lake Front Neighbors know that I am selling is imperative. This network of friends is important as they more than anyone know the value of living Lake Front. They have a mulitude of family and friends visiting them who are in the same socio-economic lifestyle as them. Then I would launch an ad and flyer campaign. Beautiful Lake Front Home With Amazing Views On A Picture Perfect Lake Available For Your Consideration. Keep in mind people travel for their piece of paradise. A 3 hour commute for a vacation or retirement home is not out of the question. Develop a web page for the home, do a You Tube video at no cost. Remember you lived there, noone knows it better than you. Sale the lifestyle, the amenities, the beauty or as I say... Sale The Wow !!!! Use some catch phrases Lake Living Is Living At It's Best, If You Are Lucky Enough To Live On The Water, You Are Lucky Enough" Know the top employers in your region with the highest pay scales, take Flyers to the parking lot to leave on the vehicles, have a friend you know place one in the lunch room or lounge. There is a ton of ways to sale a property, but a sign on the property will never be the only or the best way. Pictures, pictures, pictures, let me say this ... I truly believe due to my posts, my love for my community that every member of this forum knows my Lake and has an idea of what it has to offer and looks like. You need to do that within your community!!! I wish you The Best Life Has To Offer , Good Luck and Sale Sale Sale