Many buyers come in looking to purchase a home on the water. Lake living is a dream come true for many home buyers. Living on the water comes with a serene reality of lazy days spent in the sun, enjoying some outdoor adventure. This is what most buyers looking for water front property are looking for. When considering a home on a lake there are a few things to think about before signing on the dotted line.
When you are considering a waterfront home you need to ask about the amount of waterfront property that your home is attached to. In some lakes the land is cut up in an unnatural manner so you will want to ask specifically how much waterfront footage goes along with the house. This is especially important if you are looking to launch a boat. In order to install a dock or pier you should aim to purchase a home with at least one hundred feet of waterfront acreage. This is the number on piece of leverage you have when buying or selling a water front home. This number increases or decreases the homes overall value.
Curb appeal is a hard thing for some to grasp when purchasing a home that is situated on the water. The side of your home that is visible to the street is the area in which homeowners consider needing curb appeal. This is however untrue in lake front living. When you purchase a home on a lake the front of the house is facing the water. The front door of your home is the lake side, your front yard. Many homes on the water will have the kitchen, dining room or bedroom facing the water so that the owner can enjoy the view.
When purchasing a home on a lake you will want to consider the type of lot you are purchasing with your home. Are you hoping to use the lake for boating or is it just going to be for visual stimulation. Flat lots of land on a lake often equate to shallow water where as steep lots often mean that the lake water has some depth to it. Be sure to get information concerning the lake that you are looking to purchase a home on. If you are looking to cruise around in a speed boat all day but find yourself in a shallow lake better suited for a pontoons’ snail pace you will be disappointed.
Another consideration is the purchase of flood insurance which will ultimately up the monthly out-put needed for lake living. Some lake homes can get away with no flood insurance do to their location on the property. For instance, if your home is on a steep hill that is an acre away from the water a land surveyor may be able to help you remove the restriction your mortgage company may place on your loan. This is something to consider before closing on a home. Flood insurance starts at around twelve hundred dollars a year on a home valued at around one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
When really considering lake living, contact a real estate agent that specializes in lake homes. They will be the best equipped realtor to know the ins and outs of a great lake home. They will know what to look for and what to stay away from. They are also better versed in the surrounding bodies of water knowing which ones are all-sports lakes verse independent no-wake lakes. Once you buy your dream home on a lake you will be ready to sit back and take in a big breath of fresh lake air.