I'd make sure the Subdivison you consider has good Restrictions. You don't want to build your "Dream Home" or even a Weekend Get-A-Way, and have folks move their 19' RV's on either side of you. This may be their Weekend Get-A-Way too, but it sure doesn't help your Property value when you decide to sell.

Richland Chambers has many Subdivisions that have Restrictions that have kept this from happening. Even the older, Double-Wide MFG Home communities have restrictions such as Brick Skirting that make the communuity look nicer.

Also, check out the condition of the Roads thru the community. Lake area roads are often in poor condition due to low funds for improvement.

Most folks we know really enjoy the Lake living, but most that own waterfront don't have to worry about the cost. I couldn't justify waterfront for a Business/Weekend home, so I own off water. It's a lot cheaper and I just walk a block to look at the Lake.

Royce
http://www.gonefishin.biz

We have a place on CC. Wouldn't part with it. We're "Weekenders". The neighbors will be what you make of them. "Full Timers" are a good thing.
Be sure and check the Homeowners Association. Some have "got above their raisin". Can be a real pain if you don't agree with all their ideas.
On CC waterfront determines the size of your dock and can run as high as $2000.00 per running foot as a taxing base. All depends on where you are relative to "good water".
Also check out public services,fire, medical,shopping, etc.
The water company should be able to show you certification. If you don't like the taste, Ozarka has several options.
Good luck and keep in mind that anything worth having is worth working on.
Desperado

All good information, I'm going to start a list to make sure I don't miss anything. What lakes are constant level besides Grandury?

I don't know how far away you want to look but Palestine is a constant level lake. I have had property there 25+ years and this last drought brought the lake down around 5 feet, not bad considering the levels of many of the other lakes. I was still able to get my boat out at the lowest level. There are a wide range of developments around the lake and it is run by the Upper Neches River Authority. The dock and water pumping rights are very reasonable. I live in Dallas and I can leave my driveway and be sitting on my dock in 2 hrs 15 minutes.

Thanks! I'll have to check into Palestine too. I definetely want to avoid the lakes with the huge level changes for obvious reasons. Some are much worse then others.

The only problem with Palestine is it needs some fish in it.


Try looking at the water shed. If it catches lot of water it won't stay down long, usually. Unless it was like last year and we get an extended period of time without rain.

Living on the lake is like a vacation everyday.

Very few fish left in Lake Palestine, sanbasscamp caught all the sandbass and brids. Lake is full of stumps, rude boaters, high saline content, bad septic sysytems, bald eagles, ospreys, pelicans, beavers, nutrias, schooling brids n sandbass, bright starry nights, no malls, power outages, lotsa of annoying and biting bugs, duck poop on the dock, shifting soil,get in your boat and on the water in 5 minutes,live way out in the sticks, bad water, high electric bills, not much choice for phone, cable or internet, and lousy neighbors.
Did I mention that sanbasscammp caught most of the fish. There would not be any sane reason to check out palestine. I've benn here goin on 2 1/2 yrs and would not trade it for any citified cookie cutter house, in another cookie cutter subdivision, that looks just like all the other cookie cutter cities surrounding the metroplex. But that's just me and most of my neighbors.

CBASS - now I'm really going to check Palestine. Sounds like the place to be. Your post sounds more like a keep away from my honey hole in disguise.

If you get on the east side of the lake, sunsets are
a plus:



I will tell you this, you will get spoiled to the lift, you
will not put your boat on the trailer and go to other lakes.
So make sure you buy on the lake you want to fish from now
on. I have lived on Lake Palestine for about 10
years, I have trailered my boat about 6 times to the
coast.
Cove Vs open lake , protected water is great ,but you can't
beat the view across the open water. If you dock is exposed,
putting the boat back in the lift on a windy day can
be tough and hard on equipment.
There are definately a lot things to think about , but
many an evening I sit on the dock, drinking
a cold one, feeding the catfish and wondering what the people
who live in town are doing.

MO

East side is nice. Especially with both kids and fish!

lakefront lot prop runs around 1000 to 1500 linear ft. waterfront.
I did tell you that sanbasscamp caught most of the fish and the 40 to 50 hybrid days we had last year are not happening this year.

http://www.lakepalestinerealty.com/
Here is a link to a local realtor, go to mls listing, punch in waterfront and your price range, all props. listed in bullard, chandler, flint, frankston,and berryville will be lake palestine.
the lake is good for sand bass, hybrids, cats, crappie. I would say fair to good for LM and spots.
Sanbasscamp and his dad have more combined hours on the lake than I have been alive and he may be coerced to share some of his knowledge if asked nicely.

Toledo Bend is poised for a comeback. We have passed the law requiring the power plant to stop running at the 168 ft level.

Already the underwater grass is back. The Toledo Bend Lake Association has released over 200k Bass fingerling's in the last 2 months.

When I bought my house at Pendleton Harbour subdivision, house prices were reasonable. It's a restricted community, your investment is secure.

It's great here, very peaceful, wildlife everywhere, good fishing.

We have lived on the water for 14 years. Have great neighbors, have very few maintenance problems and wouldn't change a thing. Yes, we pay more than twice as much property tax as our neighbors across the street, but this is the style of life we want and we are willing to do that (until the city of Ft. Worth taxes us out of it). We don't take many vacations because of this but as my wife says, every morning when she gets up and looks out on the lake, it is like you are at a resort. I fish almost daily, talk to a lot of FRIENDLY fishermen and have not had a problem with anyone. Yes, I kill a water mocassin occasionally and the ducks can get to be a pest if you feed them (everyone learns the hard way). Are we satisfied--- I told my kids when I assume room temperature, just dump me in the lake for catfish bait.

Good Gosh Man DON"T DO IT

91Cajun, I have a trailer at Mustang Resort on Lake Fork. We looked at waterfront property for a long time and talked to lots of people. What it came down to was this - do you want to go to the lake and relax, fish and enjoy your weekend or do you want to go to the lake and mow the grass, paint, do maintenance and watch the fishermen go by while you're working on something. Some of my neighbors there are v.p.'s at TXU, Frito Lay, Honeywell and others. These guys could afford any lake house they want and some of them have owned lake houses. It comes down to what do you want to do with it. If you're about to retire and move there for good then by all means go for it. If you want a weekend getaway then think about your options.