7 Tips When Considering a Lakefront Home:
You’re ready to make the dive, eh? Purchasing a Lakefront home is the next item on your bucket list and as you get ready to venture into this endeavor, you will have some things to think about first. A purchase of this magnitude will require much more than a simple Internet search for:” Lakefront properties near me”. While there are several aspects to consider when purchasing a lakefront home, Toth and Team has whittled that list down to seven points.
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Find a local agent who is a true waterfront/ area specialist. We cannot stress this enough, hence why it’s number one on the list. You wouldn’t go to your dentist to perform brain surgery and you wouldn’t hire any agent to help you with your search. And it doesn’t stop at simply being a Lakefront Specialist-- you also want your agent to be a local specialist. You want an agent who also lives in the area and knows the ins and outs. Toth and Team is proud to say that not only are we experts in lake living, but we are also proud owners of a lakefront property on the very lake in which we specialize. We have been second lakefront owners and full time lakefront owners. We know both lifestyles.
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Have a chat with other residents. Along the lines of getting expert advice, why not talk to others who live there? Do they enjoy living in the community? How long have they been there? What are the greatest challenges? What are the benefits?
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What will be your waterfront responsibilities? Your agent will be able to give advice or direct you with this one. If you’re new to waterfront properties, you might want to do research on what your new responsibilities will be. Consider the fact that your backyard is your new front yard-- it is visible for all to see now with boaters driving by.
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Look into loans early. Start the prequalification process early. Purchasing a Lake Home is typically a very large purchase and available to those who are extremely qualified. You will want to start this process early because it can take a lot longer than the normal home loan process. Another note to consider is, a second home requires more money down.
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Lake Location. Are you happy to be located anywhere on the lake or do you desire a specific area? Depending on where your property is located (East, West, North, South) you could experience more day time sun (sunrise) or more evening sun (sunset)-- all of which are YOUR preference. Do you want to reside on the main lake or would you prefer a more quaint, quiet cove?
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Boat restrictions: Make sure you understand the restrictions at the lake. For instance, did you just purchase a 22ft Mastercraft? This boat would not be approved for Apple Valley Lake. Our team is well informed and educated on the dos, don’ts, cans and can'ts
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Picking the right real estate professional. Understand that lakefront at most lakes is highly desired. We know our “niche” market well. At the time you are looking, we can update you what is happening and what we predict will happen on the waterfront. -Many times we know about homes before they list in the MLS! Many homes in 2017 on the lakefront, sold within days and even hours.
Do you have questions? Maybe you’re not ready to jump right in, but you just want to talk. That’s what we’re here for. Let’s chat over a cup of coffee! Contact us and we can help!
