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What\u2019s the current condition of the home?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Living in a house with a lake in your backyard can be lots of fun, but like anything else in life, it has its drawbacks. Moisture in the air, bad weather on the lake, and fluctuating water levels will all add up to a lot more maintenance than with a home that\u2019s not on the lake\u2026 especially if you have a dock that extends into the lake itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most all construction materials can be negatively affected by being close to the water like wood, stone, and even metals. It\u2019s important to stay on top of the maintenance to avoid costly repairs down the line. It\u2019s much cheaper to maintain as you go than replace every few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like with any property you buy, you should go through it top to bottom, inside and out with a fine-tooth comb. Be sure to hire a quality home inspector that will reveal any issues before making any decisions. Bug infestations and wood rot are more common among lakefront homes than other homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Where does the sun set?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It may not seem like a big deal at first, but\nremember, you\u2019re likely to live out the rest of your life in your lake house so\nbe sure you know where the sun rises and sets. What part of the house gets\nmorning sun? Can you see the sunset? How windy does it typically get in the\nbackyard? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When buying a lake house in Orlando, this should be the top consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Get the exact details about the lake<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLake communities in Orlando can vary quite a bit when it comes to the lake itself. For example, the community of Hunter\u2019s Creek<\/a> has some gorgeous lakes throughout the community. However, if you like boating and wakeboarding then Hunter\u2019s Creek isn\u2019t for you because the lakes are protected and they do not allow gasoline engines on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re into water sports like our family is, then you would want to be on a lake where you can use your powerboat like homes on Lake Conway<\/a>. The last thing you want is to find out the lake where your house is located isn\u2019t what you expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spend some time and find out as much information as\nyou can about the lake community you\u2019ve chosen. These are some great questions\nto ask your Orlando Realtor when you\u2019re considering a lakefront home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What kind of bottom is it? Sandy? Rocky? Muddy?<\/li>
- Is it a private lake or is there a public boat ramp? [lakes with public boat ramps are a lot busier]<\/li>
- How busy is the lake normally?<\/li>
- Is there a sand bar where you can drop the anchor and swim?<\/li>
- Is there a lot of alligators? Does the HOA come and fish out the big ones? This is can be a big issue on some lakes, especially if you have little kids.<\/li>
- What kind of recreational activities are available? Boating, skiing, kayaking, fishing, jet skiing? <\/li>
- What\u2019s the bug situation? Are there mosquitoes or no-see-ums? Nothing brings the backyard BBQ to an end like being viciously attacked by tiny flying insects.<\/li>
- Besides alligators, what other kind of wildlife is there on the lake? Otters? Ducks? Geese? Are they a nuisance? <\/li>
- How\u2019s the shoreline? Is it sandy? Muddy? Can you access it from your home? Does it have a private dock?<\/li>
- Does the county stock the lake with fish?<\/li>
- Does the lake flood in rainy season? How far up on the yard does the water come?<\/li>
- Are you required to have flood insurance?<\/li>
- Can you keep a boat in the back or is there a community boat ramp? Are you allowed to have a dock in the back?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These questions may not all pertain to your lake but they are all things that need to be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Is there a separate association for the lake? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some Orlando communities have more than one\nassociation. It\u2019s a good idea to find out how your lake community works\u2026 who\nmaintains the lake? Is there a separate cost? Do some research and find out the\nnature of any organizations you\u2019ll need to join. Ask other residents in the\ncommunity if they\u2019re happy with the association and how they handle issues that\nmay arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a good\nidea to ask your Orlando real estate agent<\/a>\nabout any questions you may have about the association in charge of your lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure you can do the things you were planning on\ndoing when thinking about a lake house. The last thing you want is to not be\nallowed to do something you had on your mind when dreaming of a living on the\nlake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally speaking, having a lake association is a good thing for the community. Associations are made to protect the lake and resolve any issues that would threaten the overall health of the lake. Usually, there is a board of directors that meets regularly to discuss any problems with the lake and how to handle them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents are usually invited to attend these meetings so they can ask any questions or voice any concerns they have about the lake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Will the lake house be used as a vacation home or your primary residence?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If you\u2019re buying the lake house to be used as a\nvacation home, you\u2019ll have different needs than someone buying it as their\nprimary residence. You may not be as concerned about where the sun sets or what\nkind of bottom it is because you may only be there for a few weeks or days at a\ntime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you\u2019re looking to move into the lake house as your primary residence, then you should pay very close attention to the things mentioned in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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How far are you from civilization?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If the lake house you want to buy is in the Orlando area, then this won\u2019t be a concern. But if you\u2019re buying in a more secluded area, then you\u2019ll want to find out how far you are from modern conveniences like supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, police stations. Not everyone enjoys feeling isolated on a year-round basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cell service may also be important to you, you\u2019ll want to check how many bars you have on your phone in and around the home you are wanting to purchase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How far and how easy is it to get on major roads from the lake? Will you have a potential problem accessing your home if the road floods? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Size matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Based on what your usage will be for the home, size should be a major factor. If you\u2019re someone who gets a lot of visitors or likes to throw big backyard BBQs, then you\u2019ll want to have a guest bedroom or maybe even a separate guest house in the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you\u2019re more of a private person and it\u2019s just you and the family, a smaller home might be better for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Are you allowed to expand?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Consider if you want to expand your square footage or make some other major changes to the home one day\u2026 can you? This is another great question for your real estate agent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many times, local zoning laws can be more strict on a lake\u2026 it\u2019s important to find out what you\u2019re allowed and not allowed to do before buying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Is the lake house on a septic system or serviced by public sewer system?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another important consideration when buying a lake house is to find out if the home is on a public sewer system or if it has its independent septic system\u2026 which can be very costly to replace because they are in such proximity to a lake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the lake home you’re interested in has a septic system, be sure to get it professionally inspected. If it needs repairs or replacing, you may be able to negotiate the price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What about zoning restrictions?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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