After years of trying unsuccessfully to list my home on my own, I finally realized that I needed some serious help. I began looking for a great real estate agent who could help me out, and after interviewing a few professionals I found someone that was really in tune with what I needed. They sat down with me to talk about my needs and worked hard to help me to identify different homes that could work for my family. I wanted to make a blog all about selecting the perfect agent to work with during your house hunt. Check out this blog for great tips on choosing agents.
-
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Residential Land Transactions 28 September 2023
-
Reasons To Sell Your Home For Cash 21 March 2023
Choosing Qualified Real Estate Agents
3 Key Things To Remember When Buying A Lake House
Savannah Marshall
The real estate market is heating up in pockets across the country, while other areas are still slow. The one guaranteed fast sale, however, is a lake house. Buying a lake house is vastly different than buying other real estate.
1. You're buying the lake, not the house
This one may be a bit obvious, but this home purchase is all about the lake. Lakes are generally measured in acres, although what is considered big varies throughout the country. One man's lake is another man's pond. In all states, however, the bigger, the better.
While size does matter, there are many other factors that come into play, depending on your needs. If you like to fish, find out if the lake is stocked each year, and with what. Do they require 'quiet hours' in the morning for fishermen? If you have children and young adults in your life, is the lake an all-sports lake? Are there 'no wake' zones? Some lakes restrict access to personal watercrafts and speedboats. Lastly, what is the quality of the water and are there invasive species issues? Who is responsible for the lake? Are there association dues?
2. You're buying the lot, not the house
Lake lots are considerably smaller than conventional subdivision lots. Your neighbors will be close. The wider you can get your lot, particularly along the water, the better. In fact, in some markets, houses are priced not by square foot, but by how many feet of waterfront they have.
An additional consideration for a lake lot is how level it is. No one wants to trek up 200 steps while carrying a giant inflatable and dragging a cooler after a long day on the water. Level costs a pretty penny, however. Be prepared.
3. Oh, and you're buying the house
Lake houses are often second homes for many buyers and sellers. They aren't perfect. In fact, many sellers couldn't care less if the kitchen has linoleum instead of hardwoods or if the tub doesn't come with jets. They want to come up and enjoy the 'lake life' with their family. For that reason, lake houses may not be the same quality of finishes that you would see if you were looking in other areas.
While you are technically buying the house, please remember that houses can be fixed. Kitchens can be remodeled. Bathrooms can be updated. You can't, however, put a price on a perfect view of the sun as it slowly sinks into the water at the end of the day. For more information, contact a company like The Freedom Team – RE/MAX Gateway.
Share