Central Texas sits at the center of one of the most active waterfront real estate markets in the country. The Highland Lakes chain stretches along the Colorado River, connecting six lakes: Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin. Add Canyon Lake to the mix, and you’ve got a region packed with waterfront opportunity. Texas ranks 2nd nationally for inland waterfront properties, with over 300 lakes across the state.
But here’s the thing: buying or selling lakefront property isn’t like working with standard residential real estate. Water rights, dock permits, flood zone designations, and lake-specific regulations add layers most traditional agents don’t deal with regularly. That’s why working with a specialist matters. This guide highlights five companies that either focus exclusively on waterfront property or maintain a strong presence in the Central Texas lakefront market. We evaluated them based on specialization, local knowledge, client feedback, listing access, and service range.
How to Select Top Lakefront Real Estate Providers
We reviewed each company using publicly available data, including professional profiles, client reviews, brokerage affiliations, stated experience, and service coverage. Information reflects conditions as of 2026. Here’s what we looked for:
- Waterfront Specialization: Companies that focus on lakefront and waterfront property, not general residential real estate.
- Local Market Knowledge: Agents with direct familiarity with specific Central Texas lakes, including water-use rights, dock regulations, and community characteristics.
- Client Track Record: We reviewed volume, reputation, and consistency of client feedback across multiple platforms.
- Listing Access: Top providers offer MLS listings, off-market properties, or both to give buyers maximum options.
- Service Range: We preferred companies that support both buyers and sellers with full transaction services, not just property search tools.
List of the Best Lakefront Real Estate Companies in Central Texas
Here are the five best lakefront real estate companies serving Central Texas buyers and sellers in 2026:
- Fokus Waterfront
- The Lakefront Group
- Lakefront Living Realty
- Koehler Real Estate
- Zillow Texas Lakefront Listings
Best Lakefront Real Estate Companies in Central Texas
Fokus Waterfront
- Location: Kingsland, TX (1901 W Ranch Rd 1431)
- Experience: 20+ years in Highland Lakes waterfront real estate
- Lead Broker: Greg Gaynor, owner and licensed Texas real estate broker
- Lakes Served: Lake LBJ, Inks Lake, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Lake Buchanan
- Rankings: Greg Gaynor ranked #1 Listing Agent for Waterfront Home Sales on Lake LBJ (2025)
Company Overview: Based in Kingsland, TX, this brokerage operates under the leadership of Greg Gaynor, a licensed broker with a background in finance and MBA who also owns a vacation home on Lake LBJ. The team has represented buyers and sellers of waterfront properties across the Highland Lakes region, helping clients evaluate not just the lifestyle of owning a lake property, but its long-term value as an investment. Their service covers the full lake chain, from Lake Buchanan down to Lake Austin, with detailed knowledge of communities like Sunrise Beach, Horseshoe Bay, and Highland Haven. Focused exclusively on waterfront property, they combine strategic digital marketing and drone video with deep expertise in LCRA regulations, shoreline conditions, and the nuances of lake home ownership.
Best For: Buyers who want a true Lake LBJ expert and sellers who value a waterfront specialist with proven results.
Standout Feature: Greg Gaynor ranked as the #1 listing agent for waterfront home sales on Lake LBJ in 2025, pairing strategic digital marketing and drone video with deep knowledge of LCRA regulations, shoreline conditions, and the nuances of lake property ownership.
The Lakefront Group
- Founded: 2017 (Hunter Croan entered real estate in 2006)
- Brokerage Affiliation: Keller Williams Heritage (the largest Keller Williams office in the world)
- Rankings: Ranked #1 or #2 producing group at Keller Williams Heritage from 2018 to 2023; top 1% of all Keller Williams REALTORS®
- Media Recognition: Featured twice on HGTV’s Lakefront Bargain Hunt and Lakefront Bargain Hunt: Renovation
- Specialty Access: Proprietary systems uncovering off-market and non-MLS lake house listings unavailable on public platforms
Company Overview: Hunter Croan, a Texas A&M marketing graduate who started in real estate in 2006, launched this team in 2017. Since then, The Lakefront Group has consistently ranked among the top producers at the world’s largest Keller Williams office for six straight years. They work across multiple Central Texas lakes, including Lake Travis, Canyon Lake, Lake LBJ, and Lake McQueeney. Their marketing approach includes drone video, high-end photography, and professional staging. They also promote access to an internal network of off-market listings that are sometimes shared with buyers before appearing on Zillow or the MLS.
Best For: Buyers who want to see a range of listings across several Central Texas Lakes.
Standout Feature: An internal network to share potential off-market listings before they are available on Zillow or the MLS.
Lakefront Living Realty
- Founded: 2003 by Scott Freerksen (“The Lake Guy”)
- Headquarters: Mansfield, Massachusetts (national franchise model)
- Coverage: Nationwide franchise offices across multiple U.S. states including CT, MA, MO, NH, OH, RI, TN, and more
- Platform Traffic: 50,000+ unique visitors per month to LakefrontLiving.com
- Niche: The only nationwide full-service real estate brokerage specializing exclusively in direct lakefront property
Company Overview: Scott Freerksen started this national franchise in 2003 with a singular focus: direct lakefront property. Each franchisee runs an independently owned full-service brokerage and completes certification through Freerksen’s Premier Lakefront Specialist program, keeping standards consistent across locations. The platform pulls in every direct lakefront MLS listing in a given market, not just in-house inventory, giving buyers a full view of what’s available. While the company isn’t Texas-exclusive, its model and search tools work well for buyers comparing lakefront markets across state lines or relocating from out of state.
Best For: Out-of-state buyers or those comparing lakefront markets across multiple regions who want a single, nationally consistent platform.
Standout Feature: Displays every direct lakefront MLS listing in a market (not just in-house inventory) in 30 seconds or less.
Koehler Real Estate
- Broker/Owner: Harold Koehler (licensed Texas Real Estate Broker, TAR and NAR member, B.S. in Accounting)
- Location: Boerne, TX (309 Menger Springs, Boerne, TX 78006)
- Phone: (210) 422-1489
- Coverage: Central Texas and Texas Hill Country (counties including Blanco, Bandera, Hays, Kendall, Gillespie, Kerr, Burnet, Lampasas, Mason, Kimble, and Edwards)
- Property Types: Waterfront land, live water ranches, luxury estates, farm & ranch, hunting properties, and investment land
Company Overview: Harold Koehler brings a rare combination of skills to the table: accounting, banking, real estate finance, and large-scale asset liquidation experience, including work on more than $4 billion in FDIC/RTC assets. Operating from Boerne, TX, his firm covers Hill Country lakefront properties and live-water ranch land across more than a dozen Texas counties. The website updates every 15 minutes with current listings. Harold’s financial background makes him especially effective on complex, high-value land deals where due diligence and deal structuring matter just as much as property knowledge.
Best For: Buyers seeking lakefront land, live-water ranch properties, or large acreage with waterfront access rather than residential lake homes.
Standout Feature: Broker’s rare combination of real estate, finance, and large-asset transaction experience makes him especially effective in complex, high-value land deals.
Zillow Texas Lakefront Listings
- Platform Founded: 2006 (publicly traded; NASDAQ: ZG)
- Texas Lakefront Inventory: 9,700+ lakefront homes listed in Texas as of 2026
- Texas Waterfront Inventory: 11,900+ total waterfront homes listed across Texas
- Tools Available: Zestimate automated valuation, photo galleries, sales history, mortgage calculator, and advanced search filters
- Cost to Search: Free for buyers; agents and sellers may pay for enhanced listing placement
Company Overview: Zillow launched in 2006 and has grown into the largest real estate search platform in the United States, publicly traded on NASDAQ. For Central Texas lakefront buyers, it offers the broadest inventory snapshot available: more than 9,700 lakefront-tagged listings statewide. Each listing includes Zestimate valuations, sales history, and photo-rich property pages. Zillow doesn’t provide specialist agent services or off-market access, but it works well as a starting-point research tool for buyers entering the market and wanting to survey available inventory before engaging a dedicated lakefront agent.
Best For: First-time lakefront buyers or those early in the research process who want to survey the full market before committing to an agent.
Standout Feature: The largest publicly available lakefront inventory in Texas, with over 9,700 listings, free advanced filters, and Zestimate valuations on every property.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lakefront Real Estate Company in Central Texas
Waterfront-Specific Knowledge
Working with a generalist agent on a lakefront purchase can lead to expensive mistakes. You need someone who understands dock permits, water-use rights, short-term rental availability and flood zone classifications specific to your target lake. These details can affect both value and usability of the property.
Local Lake Experience
Each Central Texas lake has its own personality, community norms, HOA rules, and price patterns. An agent who has personally spent time on the lake (or owns property there) brings context you can’t find through online research alone. They know which communities are quiet, which are resort-style, and where you’ll find the best boat access.
Access to Off-Market Inventory
The best lakefront homes often sell before they hit public sites like Zillow. Ask prospective agents how they source off-market opportunities and whether they maintain active buyer networks for unlisted properties. Access to these deals can make the difference between settling for what’s available and finding exactly what you want.
Budget and Property Type Match
Lakefront options range from high-end residential homes on Lake Travis to live-water ranch land in the Hill Country. Make sure your agent specializes in the specific property type and price tier you’re targeting. A specialist in luxury lake homes may not be the right fit if you’re looking for raw land with water access.
Transaction Coordination
Lakefront closings involve additional inspections, title considerations, and sometimes environmental reviews. Choose a company that provides full transaction coordination from offer through closing, not just search assistance. You want someone who knows how to handle the extra steps and potential complications that come with waterfront property.
Final Thoughts
Before you commit to any provider, double-check that their area of focus matches your specific lake and property type. Use broad tools like Zillow early in the process to establish market awareness, then transition to a specialist agent for negotiation and access to off-market inventory. Ask a prospective agent how many lakefront transactions they’ve closed in the past 12 months on your target lake specifically. Lakefront real estate moves fast. Having the right agent in place before you’re ready to make an offer beats scrambling to find one after a listing catches your eye. Take the time to find the right match upfront, and the rest of the process will go much smoother.