Owning a lakefront home on open water can be very enticing. The idea of open water with a wonderful view out to the open is always appealing to many buyers. However, there are a few things that one should consider when purchasing waterfront real estate. While open water has a great appeal, in my opinion some of the best lake front real estate can be found in large coves or in small inlets close to the open water.

When you buy a lakefront property on Lake LBJ, Lake Travis or Lake Austin, you are buying a home to enjoy the lake and the water. Open waterfront buyers fail to think about the fact that during any summer weekend and especially holidays the open water can get very rough. The traffic from all the boaters and jets skis cause large wakes and creates waves. Its very hard to swim on the open water, especially if you have young children. Floating around with a drink in your hand is almost impossible and there is very little relaxation involved.

Another question to ask is will you have guests stop by in their boats or waverunners to hang out and enjoy the summer sun? On the open water it is very difficult for a friend or relative to pull up by boat and tie off because the rough water will cause their watercraft to smash up against the side of the dock. Not to mention, arrival and departure out of your dock can be a difficult task.

In my opinion, the best waterfront properties can be found at the mouths of coves or even in anywhere inside of a large cove. Typically, as boaters approach the land or small coves they often slow down and they tend to shy away from these smaller coves for watersports like skiing and wakeboarding. This will significantly reduce the amount of waves in the waterfront. Being at the mouth of a small cove will give you the open water feeling while being able to enjoy calm water. Large coves can also be very valuable as a large cove essentially feels like open water because their is great distance to properties on the opposite side and the water tends to be much more calm all the time.

When searching for a waterfront home, many buyers spend only a few days visiting homes because it will be their “weekend home” only and thus they will search on the weekends, often times visiting from out of town. Many buyers fail to get a good sense of the water in front and normally buy off of impulse. Working with an educated Realtor that has experience on the lake you are buying is key. Has your agent spent any significant time on the water? Do they own a boat and understand the ins and outs of parking a boat? Make sure that you choose an experienced professional that can offer you the proper guidance and help you find the perfect home.

Don’t let the first holiday weekend be a huge shock to you! Call me today for assistance with your Lake LBJ real estate search or for assistance in purchasing waterfront property on Lake LBJ at (512) 786-1515