The beautiful town of Claremont is home to some amazing lakefront homes. It is just one of the many reasons so many people love living in Claremont. Unlike a traditional land-locked home, there are more considerations to take into account when purchasing a lakefront property. Some you may have thought to ask and others you may not. Here are some good things to ask and consider when you are interested in purchasing a lakefront property that you may not have thought about. 
Current State of the Home and Special Maintenance Required
Living alongside a large body of water brings its own special set of maintenance requirements to a home. The added moisture in the air from living lakeside, for example, puts added wear on a home. Make sure you know the exact type of home you are purchasing from foundation to building materials to the land surrounding the home. This will help you to ask the proper questions from a home inspector on what special maintenance needs the home requires to keep it in great shape and help it stand up to the harsher environment.
Do Your Homework on the Actual Lake Itself
Each lake is different from the next and before buying a home along the shores of the lake you want to make sure it is one you are going to want to live by. Find out as much information about the specific lake the home is on that you can.
Some great things to know about the lake you plan to live on are:
- Is the bottom rocky, sandy, or muddy?
- How busy does the lake get?
- What recreational activities are allowed? What are the limitations? You don’t want to plan to go jet skiing in the summers to discover the lake has a no motor craft rule.
- How is mosquito season?
- What wildlife live at the lake and how do they behave?
- Is the shoreline sandy/rocky/muddy?
- Does the water level rise and lower with the seasons or time of day?
- What are the native plants and do things like duckweed pose an issue?
- Has there ever been a flooding issue? Where is the flood line?
- What are the rules around boat access and private docks? How easy/difficult is it to get your particular boat in the lake?
- Are there any environmental protections?
- How deep is the lake near the shore, in the center, at certain areas?
- How clean is the lake water? Has it needed to be cleaned in the past?
Is There a Lake Association?
Who or what organization is in charge of lake upkeep and rule monitoring? It is a great idea to find out as much info about this organization from its rules to its organization and communication to what the board is like. These organizations vary drastically from neighborhood to neighborhood. If you are hoping to encounter a specific type of association it is best to know before your buy.
Septic or Sewer?
This is an important question as living on a septic system requires a different way of doing things than living on a public sewer system. If the property has septic there are things to consider like the condition of the system, the size of the system (important to know how much daily use it can handle), how often it requires pumping, and if the neighborhood plans to upgrade to sewer in the future (added cost to homeowners).
Future Building
If you are looking at a home that is fairly secluded it is good to look into the possibility of further development around the lake in the future. It could end up making your once beloved quiet spot a much more crowded space or even alter your personal view of the lake from your home.
Another thing to look into is your ability to build other structures on your property. You don’t want to make plans for a boat or guest house in the future only to have them thwarted.
Privacy
Living right on the shores of a lake makes your yard visible to others on the lake. The closer your home is to the water the more boaters and other people on the water can see what is happening at your home. Ask yourself how much privacy you prefer to have and if the particular home you are interested in will provide that.
Are you looking for a lake home in Clermont? I am happy to help you find and purchase the perfect waterfront home to meet your needs and lifestyle. Contact me anytime.
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