When purchasing a waterfront home, you’re “buying” a specific lifestyle. Any real estate investment is a risk. Before choosing your perfect lake house, there are certain things you should take into consideration. If you are unsure what they are, we’re here to help. To make your search for a waterfront home easier, we’ve prepared a few tips.
First – ask yourself why you’re buying a waterfront property in Texas
Before you start browsing waterfront properties in Texas, sit down and think about why you’re considering this investment. This will help you decide if buying a waterfront property in Texas makes sense for you or not.
First, think about whether you will take advantage of the water. If you don’t see any value in having a home located on the water, making such a big investment doesn’t make sense.
Also, you should consider whether the waterfront lifestyle is what you desire. Do you see yourself inviting friends and family to enjoy gorgeous sunsets or have fun on the water? If your answer is no, paying a premium price for a waterfront property might not be worth it.
Things to consider when buying a waterfront property in Texas
If you’ve decided that the waterfront lifestyle is for you, further in this article, you’ll find out what the five most important things to consider before investing are.
1. Your finances
Whether you’re buying your first home or your third holiday home, one of the most important things to consider is your finances. This is even more important when purchasing a waterfront property. If you plan on taking out a mortgage, getting pre-approved is crucial. Sellers are usually advised by their agents to only accept offers from pre-approved buyers.
Keep in mind that there are fewer waterfront homes on the market than buyers. This means that there is often a lot of competition. That’s why sorting out your finances early on is very important. If you skip this step, you’ll likely lose a property you like.
Also, don’t forget that there are other costs involved. For example, the costs of relocation. Luckily, it’s very easy to find good movers nowadays. The database of qualified moving teams at Verified Movers is an excellent place to start. Since only certified movers can be found here, you can be sure your belongings will be transferred safely, no matter how arduous the move might be.
2. Research the body of water
Choosing a suitable lake might be even more important than selecting the property. If you make a mistake and opt for the wrong location, you might end up regretting your decision. Remember, you can always update your home, but you can’t change the location and surroundings.
Here are some things to consider:
- If you’re buying a waterfront home so that you can enjoy your boat, make sure to do your research about the water depths.
- If you want to swim, research the quality of water.
- Also, make sure to check if the property has any “fill area” and find out who owns it.
As there are 7000 lakes in Texas, you are highly likely to find one that suits your needs and preferences.
3. Research rules and regulations
Once you find a home you’re interested in, research if there are any specific rules and regulations you should know about. Many waterfront homes are part of communities or associations that come with additional fees.
Here is what you should check:
- Since water regulations are different in each state, check if you’ll have access to the water.
- Check if you can build on the water. For example, you might want to build a dock.
- There are rules against taking personal watercraft out on the water in some places. If you plan on doing this, make sure to check if you are allowed.
- If you plan on fishing in Texas or engaging in other recreational activities, check out the rules first.
4. Understand the responsibilities that come with waterfront properties in Texas
Owning a home comes with many responsibilities. However, with waterfront properties, these obligations are slightly different. So, before you start organizing your relocation and looking to get adequate help for the process, it’s essential to understand what kind of obligations owning a waterfront property entails.
Waterfront properties are generally more prone to damage caused by the weather. The crucial task that comes with owning a waterfront property is maintaining its frontage.
5. Research insurance requirements
Lastly, you need to research insurance requirements for a property you’re interested in. Depending on its location and type of financing, it’s highly likely that you’ll have to obtain a flood insurance policy on your property. This type of insurance covers repairs of damage caused by flooding.
As some waterfront properties are at a higher risk of flooding, it’s imperative to research and find a good insurance policy. Even though the insurance policy will probably be expensive, it’s worth it as you won’t have to worry in case a significant issue occurs. Plus, as there are plenty of affordable lake towns in Texas to choose from so you can compensate your insurance costs differently.
Final thoughts on buying a waterfront property in Texas!
As you can see, buying a waterfront property in Texas is a unique experience. As most people don’t get the opportunity for such an investment, we’d like to congratulate you and wish you the best of luck with your search. If you need any help finding your dream waterfront home in Texas, feel free to reach out, and we’ll be happy to help!