вЂњSunsets, while nice, can also heat up the interior of a home or cottage, and exposure to the sun can also create premature wear and tear on siding and roofing.вЂќ вЂњThink about morning coffee on the dock watching the sun come up, or evening cocktails on the patio-in the sun, or shade?вЂќ says Serbin. It might not matter too much where the sun rises and sets in your primary house, but when you buy a lakeside vacation home, that is something to consider for the quintessential lakeside experience. Look at where the sun shines (or doesnвЂ™t) Watch: The 5 Questions All Buyers Should Ask Their Real Estate Agent On the other hand, if lower water levels are trending, your cottage could end up being farther from the water. Securing permits from local and state authorities to amend the property may take much longer than you planned and become an extra expense you werenвЂ™t planning. Shoreline erosion can damage or completely demolish your lakeside vacation home. вЂњThe Great Lakes levels have hit historic highs over the last couple of years,вЂќ says Rob Serbin, broker and owner of Serbin Real EstateВ in Glen Arbor, MI.

Speaking of the shoreline, be sure to check the history and see where itвЂ™s trending. There may be restrictions on the materials you can use, to prevent shoreline erosion regulations for developing reinforced beach areas or even bans on certain types of lawn fertilizer. When you live on a lake, however, there are typically rules and guidelines to protect the shoreline. You can pretty much do whatever you want when it comes to gardening and landscaping your house. That includes things like new docks, expanded parking, and beach enhancements. вЂњThese designations will likely have an impact on what you are allowed to do along the waterline and lot.вЂќ

вЂњEach lake may be categorized differently by the local, state, or federal jurisdictions,вЂќ says Darrow. If youвЂ™re more into sunbathing and swimming, is the lake clean or mucky? Is it shallow near the shore, or does it drop off quickly? Besides water sports, there are other essential details to consider. вЂњI live on a lake that does not allow gas-powered motors and has a very low speed limit,вЂќ says Darrow. The main (and most amazing) difference between buying a lakeside cottage and a regular home is lake frontage!Д«ut вЂњthe type of lake makes a world of difference in your lakeside experience,вЂќ says Sarah Darrow, a lakeside homeowner and broker with Realty ONE Group Clarity in Stanwood, WA.Дo you envision puttering around the lake on a pontoon or high-powered motorboat? YouвЂ™d better make sure itвЂ™s allowed. HereвЂ™s what you need to factor in before making your lakeside dreams a reality. And if youвЂ™re not careful, you could end up in the deep end (pun intended!).

It means sinking your toes in the sand on your own private beach, waking up to sun-kissed mornings and sipping coffee on the deck, and ending the day with breathtaking sunsets and the rhythmic soundscape of bird calls and water lapping the shore.Д«ut all that blissful daydreaming aside, buying a lakeside cottage is way different from buying a typical home.

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