lake home advice

[mtreno]

well i have been thinking and also looking into buying a home on the water. my question is, what lake front questions/problems should i keep an eye out for. i am great with homes but i dont know what to ask about the lakefront.

[Grabs]

Well our very own Cory Frantzick should be able to help you out. I will pass this post along to his attention. He would be a great realtor to have on your side for lake homes!

[hydro]

Do your shopping in mid summer when weed growth is at the maximum. Many properties with "sandy beaches" are less than so. Look for access to the water that is not a cliff and is dry all year. A gradual slope to the lake will make handling the dock much easier. Good Luck.

[mtreno]

Grabs - thanks, i act as my own agent but if Cory has a listing that would be great.
Hydro - see there you go - never would have thought of mid-summer weed thing. that makes perfect sense.

thanks guys! keep the ideas coming!

[Blaze]

* Elevation from water (ie, slope of lot) is a big one
* Good advice on shoreline conditions - mid-summer is ideal time to look
* Also, don't forget to ask about ice-out. Sometimes south/east/southeast shoreline gets hammered with ice jams when the spring winds start blowing and it piles up on shoreline, ripping it to heck. Something to consider...

[Jim W]

When you buy, please do us all a favor and don't plant grass right down to the waters edge!!!!!!!!!
If you buy something that has this, do what you can to prevent run-off!!!

Jim W

[mtreno]

no worries there Jim. would never do something like that. i still cant understand why people dont understand the problems the make by doing that.

[This message has been edited by mtreno (edited 04-30-2003).]

[bturck]

Check with the County Extension agent for the county you are looking at the property in. Determine wether this property is in a Flood Plain. If it is the lender will force the Flood Policy in order to obtain the mortgage, if you're financing. Bill Turck

[The Chemist]

You probably thought about this but look to the DNR's measurements that they have taken. Also check the slope of the shore. If you have a steep bank it will be hard to put in/take out dock, boat lift. Access during the winter. Another idea is to actually wear a swimsuit or shorts and check the bottom out a little from shore with your feet. Some bottoms look nice for the first 10 ft but then turn to muck.

[Guest]

Do two things:
1. Pay for a title search
2. Don't trust the inspector to make you aware of the real issues with your well, septic and building condition in general--if you are experienced with home inspections or know one personally use one you know.

Also, I would shy away from buying lakeshore on Soverign Land...they have lots of money rolling in from their slot machines and they may just sue for their land to be returned to them at some point...

------------------
Chells

[Bob O]

Some ideas:
Make sure the septic system is up to code, find out if there is anything in the works by local agencies that may require expensive upgrades or repairs.If you are not familiar with the lake, check out the DNR lake stocking and survey reports available on the web; Find out if there is a properety owners association for the lake and touch base with its president; Learn what you can about lake traffic and see if it matches your expectations (i.e. maybe you want to relax on holiday weekends but the lake is crawling with jet skiis...); Find out if there are problems with theft or vandalism at any time of the year;

[Jackpine Rob]

Find out what the "normal" levels of the water are, as well as the maximum depth. There are a whole bunch of folks out in North Dakota (Devils Lake) who got a rude lesson in water levels. Another Minnesota example is Lake Oscar west of Alexandria, which had a natural outlet far higher than the level of many of the structures. Can you say flooding?
Find out what the zoning for that lake is. There are different zoning classifications based on the type, size and development on various lakes. These zoning regs will dictate what you can and can't do in the way of clearing trees, building structures, repairing damaged structures, etc. Better to find out ahead of time if your plans and dreams conflict with existing zoning.
Big issue is to get yourself some title insurance. Ask questions about what is and is not covered. Does the property have legal road access? (The answer surprises many cabin owners). Often lakefront properties are accessed via private dirt roads, and no legal, recorded document appears on the records granting the right to use the road. This is important not only if bank financing is involved, but something you need to look at as well.
Finally, make sure the lake holds plenty of large fish, and after you get them all located you can give me a call.

[chunkytrout]

1. Minimum 100 Amp Electric Service (Optimum 200)
2. Well Condition ( Have the water quality checked if your interested in the property Alot of lake property wells are ancient)
3. Septic approved. (Alot of people up here are waking up to the nightmare that their going to have to upgrade their septic systems. 3000-6000 dollars or more)
4. Runoff (Look for wash out areas especially close to the cabin or building site.
5. Read your plot very carefully and don't hesitate to have a surveyor out to the property.

GOOD LUCK

Chunky

[minneman]

and also if your looking to get a lot to build on or add to, consider this, there is in some countys regulations on bluffs or at the point a flat curves down to the lake. if steep enough you will be told how far back your able to build, usualy between 25-30', also consider the other setbacks and impervious coverage limits. this will affect your future building and addition plans for sure, if on a small lot. the zoneing office should have all info in print to pick up.And..
do what you can to better your lake.
have some respect for others on the water.

[mtreno]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas for things to look for. as i'm sure you know lake front property is not cheap. my main goal to start with is to make sure i get a good lot with nice access for all of my fishing needs. said to say but the actual home is second on the list. I would be down grading homes to be able to afford a move like this with the desire to someday build new on the lot. that is another point that i need to keep in mind is the county/city restrictions that are in place and will be in place for the future. this whole process could take sometime but if and when it does come true it will be the last time i move (i am on my third home in five years) so i want to make sure i do it right. thanks again for your help! keep the thoughts rollin if you see more that i should be looking at.

[ISU Fisherman]

I an new to this. Why is it bad to plant grass close to the shore. What does it do to hurt anything. Is the worry about the fertilizer? Just Curious.