Looking to buy a waterfront home on Lake Tuscaloosa? We have 8 Lake Tuscaloosa home buying tips to keep you from getting burned when you buy waterfront property.
Buying a waterfront home or waterfront property in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has been your dream. It is time to turn your dream into your reality by owning an exquisite piece of waterfront along Lake Tuscaloosa or Black Warrior River that runs past The University of Alabama.
From pre-approval to paying points, buying a home is always a complicated process. Now throw ‘waterfront’ in the mix, and things get even more complex. Fortunately, real estate agents who regularly deal with waterfront properties know the ins and outs of this process.
As you begin your waterfront home or waterfront property search in Tuscaloosa or in any other part of the country you will want to consider…
8 Expert Lake Tuscaloosa Waterfront Home Buying Tips
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WATERFRONT SPECIALIST
Find a real estate agent who is a true waterfront specialist.
The average agent will not have the detailed knowledge of waterfront properties in your area to help you find the best deal on a property that is right for you. You may
think you have found a great deal, but the reason it is a great deal might not be easy to see. Is the dock up to code? How deep is the water off the dock when the lake is at its lowest level?
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WATERFRONT PROPERTY FIRST
Consider the waterfront property more than the structure. Often people fall in love with a house, but after they buy it, they realize the swimming is mucky, the view is not very good, it is difficult to get down to the water, or the place is not very private. You can change the house, but there are some things you can’t change.
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YOUR WATERFRONT LIFESTYLE
Choose a property that truly ‘Fitts’ your lifestyle. You may find a beautiful property for sale, but it is half an hour away from the closest grocery store and 45 minutes from work or your kid’s school or after school activities. Focus on the activities you’re passionate about and choose a property accordingly.
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LOANS
Look into loans early. Since many waterfront properties are more expensive than other properties, loans will often fall into the jumbo mortgage category. Lenders will therefore only consider very qualified buyers.
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WATERFRONT RESTRICTIONS
Find out what you can do with the property. If you want to make any changes to your waterfront property, such as adding a dock or cutting down trees, start this process early to ensure that these alterations will be possible.
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TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS
Get insider information from neighbors by asking if they enjoy living in the community, if they have any issues with the property you are thinking about purchasing, or if there are any waterfront-related problems. Ask them about the highest water mark they have seen and the lowest water level they have seen.
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UTILITIES
In rural areas, look into utilities. Waterfront buyers who are accustomed to the convenience of suburban life may assume that electricity, clean water, an adequate septic system, garbage pick up, cable and Internet will be readily available at their new property, but this is not always the case. Bringing these services into remote areas can be very expensive, so investigate these issues before buying.
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WATERFRONT RESPONSIBILITIES
Get to know your responsibilities as a waterfront homeowner. If you are part of a homeowners association, find out what kind of upkeep and maintenance of the property will be required from you by reviewing the conditions, covenants and restrictions and speaking with the HOA’s management company.
As the proud owner of waterfront property, make no mistake: you are the envy of people everywhere. With every advantage comes a little extra hassle or worry. There is a lot to think about, so steer your ship to happy home ownership!
—- Bottom Line —-
Buying or selling a waterfront home? We will help you find ‘A Waterfront House That Fitts’ your budget and your lifestyle.
Call us (205) 248-7353 or send us a message Carrie Fitts.
We look forward to helping you.