Most lakes and ponds are considered “wetlands” and therefore fall under the Wetlands Protection Act. Each town has its own interpretation of this Law in their zoning regulations, therefore you (or your buyer’s agent) need to find out the particulars of the property you are considering purchasing. Here are some...
About 15% of all lakefront properties will require flood insurance by the lender. This means that they have determined (through FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps) that the property sits in a flood zone. Flood insurance is not cheap and can cost anywhere from $500 per year to $5,000 per...
As it relates to lakefront property, the popular real estate phrase “Location, Location, Location” was never more applicable. Once you find your dream LAKE, the location ON that lake can make or break your enjoyment. So here’s some things to consider about location: From house to neighboring house, the...
Understand that you are not just buying a house, you are buying a LAKE! After all, it’s the lakefront lifestyle you wish to experience. Therefore, all the specific details of the lake become critically important to enjoy the lifestyle you desire. Ask yourself (and your family) the following questions....
To understand what flood insurance covers, you need to know three things first: 1. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage at all. It’ll cover some damage from rain, but if your home is filled with water as a result of rising bodies of lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans, it won’t...
Is snow and ice covering your lakefront dreams? Don’t let that discourage you from buying a lakefront home in one of the best times of the year. But how do you know that the shoreline conditions are? How deep is the water? Are there aquatic weeds? What does the...
Before purchasing that dream home, master these tips from the experts. By Shannon Petrie, HGTV Design. From pre-approval to paying points, buying a home is always a complicated process. But throw “waterfront” in the mix, and things get even more complex. Fortunately, real estate agents who regularly deal with...
The health effects can range from mild fatigue to severe respiratory distress and death. There may not be a silver bullet—or at least a cost-effective one—to eliminate all indoor air pollution at your lake home, but looking at these six steps, big and small, will set you on the...
Tired of inaccurate on-line valuations for lakefront homes? Automated Valuation Models – or “AVMs” – can be a valuable tool for buyers & sellers…but they are notoriously inaccurate for certain types of homes…especially lakefront. AVMs cannot account for all the variables that accompany unique locations, especially the details of the...
From pre-approval to paying points, buying a home is always a complicated process. But throw “waterfront” in the mix, and things get even more complex. Fortunately, real estate agents who regularly deal with waterfront properties know the ins and outs of this process. These 10 tips from the pros...