Tag: community lakes

Tips on Finding the Right Lake Community

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo by Brooklyn Morgan on Unsplash

At Lake Homes Realty, we’re always talking about finding your dream home. We emphasize the importance of connecting with local real estate agents who have national expertise to guide your personalized search. Part of what our agents do so well is tailor their recommendations to what you’re looking for. A lake home for retirement? A lake area with a lot of families? We can help. We’re here to help you circumvent common buyer mistakes and help you pick a lake home that suits you. 

In finding this dream home, a common mistake that buyers make is overlooking the importance of a lake community’s culture. A buyer may think that a neighborhood checks off all their boxes, but they forget to assess the cultural feel of the lake community. To understand more about this topic, we talked with Katie Severance, real estate agent and author of The Brilliant Home Buyer. Through her insights, we’re here to share some important ways to be a smarter buyer and find the right lake community for you.

Look for Signs of Expansion

Image courtesy of Sun Bay Builders

When looking for a lake community, it’s tempting to assess the area based on what features already exist. However, communities are constantly changing, and it’s more helpful to assess the community fit based on the trajectory in which the area is headed. Katie says, “See if there’s going to be an arrival or expansion of a nearby university, park, hotel, hospital, anything that’s coming soon. Nothing will have more of an impact on your home than the value of a community.” If you’re looking to live in a lake area with an up-and-coming lively scene full of amenities, ask about these expansion plans.

Ask for the Town Hall Minutes

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

You can tell a lot about a lake community by how it’s run. A lot of homeowners bypass this consideration, but Katie encourages asking yourself: “If there’s an HOA and town council, are they dysfunctional? Do they get along? Are they running efficiently?” One way to investigate this is by asking for six months worth of minutes from the local town hall. Not only will you determine how well-run they are, but you’ll also get insight into what issues are prevalent in the community. Katie also advises getting a copy of their bylaws and rules and regulations, if they exist. This will tell you how you’re allowed to use the water, and what the restrictions are in terms of access and land use. 

Another important consideration to look for in these minutes is indicators of the town’s politics. “A lot of communities skew one way or the other,” Katie says, “If you’re a liberal in a conservative area, you’re going to be unhappy.”

Check the News and Social Media

Image courtesy of WAMC

If anything bad has happened in your potential neighborhood (e.g., environmental concerns, crime issues, etc.) chances are, it would be reported in the newspaper of the nearest town or city. “Put the town in quotes in Google,” Katie advises. “A real estate agent isn’t allowed to talk with you about crime, and they also don’t have to tell you if someone died in the house.” Googling these potential issues in the news will help cover your bases. 

Another great tool is social media. In addition to asking the realtor what the culture of the community is like, Katie suggests using social media “to see how people see how people talk to and treat each other.”

Know Your Neighbors

Photo courtesy of Realtor.com

One of the best ways to learn about your lake community’s culture is by getting to know your neighbors. Use Facebook groups to check in with people who live there, let them know you’re looking to buy a home, and ask your questions. Another neighbor-related consideration is checking what percentage of homeowners are year-round residences. “In a co-op, the value of the building is higher if they are owner-occupied. At a lake house, this isn’t quite the same but you might have renters who are loud and obnoxious,” she explains. “If it’s a giant lake VRBO, that wouldn’t be a good choice. It’s a really hard thing to remedy.” 

In your search for your dream lake community, be sure to contact one of our lake agents who will help personalize your search.

The Pros and Cons of Suburban and Community Lakes

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Tellico Village.

During the pandemic, the number of people buying a lake house has drastically increased. It’s easy to see why. Surrounded by more trees than people, lake homes are the perfect locations for social distancing. However, when looking to buy a lake house, there are several factors to consider.

Of course, there are the obvious deliberations — how much money to spend and which state you want to live in. But one of the most important factors is which type of lake community you’re seeking. 

Some of us want to channel our inner Henry David Thoreau in a remote location, surrounded by undisturbed wilderness, a la Moosehead Lake.

Others of us (likely extroverts) prefer a community of other lake dwellers. This group is seeking a lively, close-knit group of neighbors full of potluck invitations and shopping trips. If this is you, it’s worth looking into buying a home on a community or suburban lake. These lakes are typically smaller and more removed from the hype (nothing like Lake of the Ozarks’ infamous Party Cove) with plenty of charm. If you’re considering suburban lakes in your buying decisions, check out these pros and cons first.

The List of Pros

Photo courtesy of FXVA.com.

The most practical benefit is the cost. Since community and suburban lake homes are primarily located away from the waterfront, they cost a fraction of what a lakefront property would. According to Homelight.com, waterfront homes consistently cost more than those away from the water. In 2017, the difference was $50 more per square foot, which can certainly add up. 

Aside from the savings, buyers are attracted to the neighborhood vibes of suburban lakes. Unlike remotely located lakes, the focus is on the community more so than nature (although nature is undoubtedly an added benefit — for instance, Great Falls Lake, Tennessee, is known for the amazing waterfalls and white water rapids).

In addition to friendly neighbors who live a 30-second walk away, lake communities often have a unique culture that makes the neighborhood special.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (located on Geneva Lake) is renowned as a summer paradise. This lake town is known for shopping, an award-winning magic show, and colorful mansions along its shores. 

Lake Lure, North Carolina, has a similar reputation. Close to Greenville and Spartanburg, this community lake offers a vibrant, lively culture and all the perks of lake living. This dynamic feel is emblematic of suburban lakes more broadly.   

Another benefit is the proximity to amenities such as state parks, shopping centers, and restaurants. These resources and attractions are usually not available in rural lake areas.

Community lakes in the Liberty Park area of Birmingham, Alabama, are close to Vulcan Park, the Summit shopping center, and other attractive features. Similarly, Lake Anne in Virginia is located in Reston’s charming suburban community with an exciting restaurant scene, public parkland, and proximity to Washington D.C.

For those seeking a lakeside retirement community, suburban lakes often come with even more amenities. For instance, residents in communities such as White Bluff Resort, Texas, and Tellico Village, Tennessee, can join clubs, golfing groups, and countless other organizations.

Another feature that is often helpful is for those who want to be near a hospital. For instance, Lake Tansi offers proximity to the high-quality University of Tennessee medical center. 

This List of Cons

Clearly, there are more pros than cons — what can we say? We love lakes! However, depending on how you envision your lake lifestyle, there are some cons to consider.

Although there is a lower cost to living on a community or suburban lake, you are typically sacrificing a waterfront view. As such, there’s a good chance you can’t look at the lake from your back porch or hop on the boat at a moment’s notice. You might also lack a boat dock for this reason, although it’s typically possible to find rental spaces at a nearby marina. 

Additionally, if you’re seeking a more active environment, these lake areas may not be suitable for you. For instance, if you’re someone who wants to roll out of bed, run to the lake, and hop on a jet ski, a smaller lake may not allow for these water sports or easy access to the lake. Ultimately, if living directly on the lake is more important to you than access to surrounding amenities, a suburban or community lake may not be a great match. 

Remember — the search for a lake house is all about figuring out what’s most important to you. For help on this process, reach out to a Lake Homes Realty agent with market expertise on both local and national levels.