I've been considering buying waterfront property. I prefer a lake that allows your own private dock that the water level doesn't go up and down 20' every year. What are some of the other things to look for or watch out for?

Tax's,Termite's,A retaining Wall,If you do need a retaining wall,make sure it is galvanized,Open water can be much rougher than a cove,The depth of the water? Neighbors? Neighborhood?Boat lift,what kind of condition will the boat lift be in? Take your time,don't get in a hurry,Water pump to water the lawn??

The above just about covers it.. Taxes are a killer on water front depending on where you live.. I guess they think your rich....

There is a lot of maintenance with water front property, but it has it's advantages too.
Billy

Are the tax rates high or is it because of the property value? It would be nice to be somewhat close to civilization but, seems like the more remote lakes might be better? Of course if the lake had stripers, hybrids, florida hybrid blacks, crappie, channel cat etc..... That would be a plus. Neighbors can be a problem regardless of city, ranch or waterfront. It does seem like lake folks are a little more social. A friend has a weekend place that he bought to go chill at. His neighbors are always coming over wanting to do things together. He said his wife would like to just sit on the dock and relax without having to get all fixed up. He's thinking about selling and buying a ranch instead.

What are some of the maintenance issues that differ from lawn maintenance etc... ?

Taxes and price are high,but I would'nt trade the last 5 years to live anywhere else.We spend a lot of time on our dock fishing and just relaxing.

we have found the maintenance other than just the regular lawn stuff is problems associated with humidity and shifting soil
our boat lift needed a little work
and I agree on the cove thing, I have a neighbor just outside of our cove who had some stuff torn up from a strong north wind a month ago (he had a tie down rope break and his boat crashed into a few things at his lift)
property values will be higher = higher taxes (lots across the street for me are 60-75% lower because we are lake side)
but, hard to beat a back yard with a lake in it

Any theft issues with things in your boat or boathouse? I guess the wind on the open water part of the lake could be a big problem.

most people I know that end up getting waterfront lots... do less fishing and more work...

I agree with Ronnie sold my house on the lake last year. It was always my dream to own on the water until I experienced it first hand. 1. taxes will eat you alive I also owned lot across the street that lot was twice the size and 1/10 of the tax (imagine this a good piece of property will add close to a $1000 to your mortgage payment). 2. Maint. everything from cleanup to constantly sinking money into repairs and general maint. 3. Insurance is higher, Smells, Snakes, Bugs (can't use any kind of pest control near the water), Water varmits (that includes people),floods, droughts (repairing damage from),rust prevention,pumping water from the lake is not necesarily cheaper (dues, maint on pump, electricity, sprinkler system breakage, high lake saltwater content kills grass, etc) 4.Boat lifts over time can mar, scratch or damage your boat 5. The main reason I purchased lake front was to have easy access for fishing (then came the fish kills you ever net and rake up 100's of dead fish off your property I have.)

Don't buy anything on a COE lake.

I would definatley look into where my drinking water was coming from, is it a well or public.

Those were the reasons I bought!

91

I have lived on a lake front for most of my life.. maintenance
issues are mostly cosmetic stuff, nothing a power washer won't fix most of the time.. If you build correctly; and plan for the damp and shady conditions that may occur, it helps.

As far as bug and varmints go, I use the home defense method in liquid and LEAD to handle those problems..You can get the liquid at home depot and the lead at any sporting goods store.

The neighbor thing is a blessing in disguise.. thou nosey they watch your place when your away and if you have a health issue
helps not far away either.

I'm a lucky man I guess, our small subdivision is populated with couples about our age and everyone gets along great and we have some over the top cook outs. Lots of fun..

A little yard work or maintenance issues have never kept me or my family off the water when we want too go that's for sure.. I try too do any necessary work during the winter or early in the mornings in the summer..

Every thing cost more out in the country, water,gas,elec, even your trash pickup. But I wouldn't trade with any one..

JM2C's

Billy

91

I second what Keystone said!!! I too have a house at Cedar Creek (Tool) as well as Fork. If it is going to be just property, sitebuilt home or MFG community. All have pros and cons. Weekender or full time.

So far I haven't heard anything I didn't already expect. Two things in life that are certain are Death and Taxes. I know folks who have places on Cedar Creek and Grandbury. The biggest complaints were neighbors and spiders. One of the positives was neighbors. Like you mentioned RedS, good ones are worth their weight in gold.

Since my plan is to start out with a weekend place security is important. I don't really want to have to drag everything out when I get there and then put it all away when I leave. Likewise I don't want to spend all weekend doing lawn work.