Building a lake house is a dream for many. Living in an East Tennessee lakefront home is an idyllic experience regardless if it’s a summer getaway or a year-round lake house.
East Tennessee is the premier destination for vacationers, retirees, or anyone wanting to live in the beauty of nature that only the ‘land of the lakes’ can provide. East Tennessee is full of lakes and river, with its natural beauty and huge variety of year-round activities, Tennessee is the perfect place to build your lake house.
Before you begin construction, you should be aware of all the important details that go into finding your lakefront lot and building a custom home on waterfront property.
Understanding the Different Lakes and Water Levels
Not all lakefront properties are the same. Properties on a large lake gives you the ability to sport about in a powerboat, but if you want peace and quiet, you might be better on a smaller body of water or less active lake. Are you aware of different season water levels? If you plan to use your lake home and boat year round you need to focus your search on lake with year round water like Tellico Lake, Ft. Loudoun Lake, or Watts Bar Lake. Whatever your favorite activities are, make sure the lake can accommodate them.
Lakefront Site Selection
Are you building in a community with special restrictions or assessments? Do you have shoreline rights? Waterfront zoning restrictions can be vary widely and be confusing. Understanding the TVA guidelines for what you can and can’t do with you’re shoreline and if you can have a dock. You lake specialist can guide you to a lot or lake community that best fits your needs.
Inspect Your Lakefront Lot
Spend time carefully inspecting at your future property. Our Lake Team can connect you with qualified professionals to discuss basement/special foundation types, septic types, upkeep, shoreline, and other potential costs.
Evening if a lot appears to be buildable, do your due diligence to inspect and research the property thoroughly. Underlying issues like protected areas, rocks in ground, soil, and county restrictions can create additional costs and delays.
Finding a Reputable Builder
Building a lake house is not your average construction process. Consulting a reputable builder with an extensive knowledge of waterfront custom homes should be your first step. A knowledgeable builder will have the ability to educate and guide you through the myriad of steps involved in building your lakefront home.
Greystone Construction on Tellico Lake has years of experience building homes on waterfront property and in multiple lake communities, with a deep understanding of different community building restrictions. Local expertise can offer you unique insight to building in the region that few builders can. Our Lake Team are experienced in communicating with builders to find lakefront lots that are right for your dream home.
Budgeting for you Dream Lakehome Build
Building a home is complicated enough, but financing the build is even more complicated. If you need to finance both the land and the build, you’ll want to seek approval (or pre-approval) as early on as possible. In fact, this should be one of your first steps before you even start looking at properties.
When you have your finances in order, it makes the rest of the build less stressful. The last thing you want is to scramble to secure a loan after you’ve found the perfect property. You may not get approved in time to snatch up the land before someone else does.
Costs to build vary widely by different lakes, different communities, and different lots. Working closely with your lake specialist and builder can give you an idea once you narrow down lots and plans. Even after you’ve gotten an estimate for your home. That estimate probably won’t be anywhere near what you’ll actually spend. Things will come up along the way, especially with a waterfront property. Plan to spend more, and go as far as including unexpected extras into your budget.
Good communication is the key to a great home building experience.
Lakefront Living Realty in East Tennessee takes great pride in providing excellent communication with our clients. Building a home requires a great working relationship with your realtor and future builder. From making sure you find the right piece of buildable land to checking local laws and finding an experienced builder, planning and communication will go a long way in saving you time and money when building your new home.
Contact Lakefront Living in East Tennessee HERE to start planning.
Posted by Polly Harrison, realtor, Lakefront Living Realty TN