I must be missing something. Why is a lake house more maintenance? I moved from a house on 17 acers and a pond to our current waterfront home on 2 acres. Maintenance is no different on the house, had to grease my boat lifts at the dock once, mowing less grass and changed a few lightbulbs around the beach. That's it. Maybe if it's a second home but living here is no more maintenance then any other home I have lived in.
For me its not more than my house but it became to much for me to handle with my bad leg . I've had a vacation home for last 25 years so I know what it takes , also a lake house costs me $1000.00Originally Posted by BassDad824
a month with everything paid for . But money didn't matter to me but if your going to buy a second home keep in mind what the total costs will be .
Going on 4 years with a lake place and it's still the best purchase I've made, I would do it ago in a heartbeat. Being able to walk down to the dock jump in the boat and go will never get old.
I understand you there. Any second home can be a pain but when you live there full-time and it's not a strong current river or freezes rock hard, you should be fine.
The river in front of my house has a strong current and it freezes when it gets really cold and other than spending an hour in the fall and an hour in the spring to deal with the dock, there's still no more maintenance here on my waterfront house than there was when I lived in the city.
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One thing to consider with being in a canal is how much water is in said canal and if you have to lock through to get to any of the bigger water. My grandparents had a place in okeechobee and during a couple of years the water was so low they couldn't lock to the big lake.they still had water to fish off the dock but my grandpa was pretty bumbed. Happened after they had already been there 7-8 yrs and the thought never crossed his mind. Here in Michigan we occasionally have to pay to have our canals dredged so we can have access to main lake. Just something to consider
I live on the water and have a bass boat on a covered boat lift at my back door and to be honest I fished more when I trailered my boat 40 miles each way to go. Then I never worred about the tide or wind and just went and stayed all day. Now I look out the window and if the tides not right or the weather is not to my liking I don't go and if I do go and don't catch anything in the first hour or so I usually come home. It's a sad story but true! Don't let that happen to you.
My mom just bought a place on lake Gaston last year. Easy answer I LOVE IT!!! As to some of the thought as to maintenance, I don't feel that there is a lot more, but not being there full time there is less time to complete tasks. In our case my mom owns it but my family and my brothers family takes care of most of the maintenance. As far as enjoying it. I don't fish every minute, but I live on the dock. I enjoy fishing, riding on the pontoon, swimming, partying, etc.
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That's really what I'm saying. I am on a big lake that rarely freezes hard so no additional maintenance than any other home. I was just speculating on what could cause additional problems.
Good points guys, I can see where maintenance costs would be a factor when its a second home, but this will be my primary residence, so no different than any other home, the yard is very small, with room for the home a boat and truck and a shed and not a lot else, so upkeep wouldn't be bad.
Very good point, and yes, that could happen here too, but if it does, there is a ramp 2 minutes walking distance from the home that will be accessible no matter what the water level. There is also a ramp pretty much next door to the home ( I can see it from the kitchen lol) At this time, I doubt I will ever keep the boat in a slip, because, I wouldn't be fishing daily, and also, I like to go to other lakes in the area too.
Weekend should be fun living next to ramp... Dan
LOL, no, this ramp is for neighborhood use only, so On the weekends when the ramp is nuts, i can put in there and idle out to the lake and avoid the craziness...Weekend should be fun living next to ramp... Dan
I have been a seasonal camper for a lot of years. Our campground is 90% seasonal so we have made a lot of freinds there. Plus Chautauqua has many other things to do which makes it a nice varied destination. Spring/fall steelhead fishing, summer bass, Lake Erie close by, wineries, Chautauqua Institution, on and on.
Take a a look at Park Models. They offer much larger living space, the ability to do a deck and fixed roof and more importantly less maintenance than RV's. Less chance of leaks with shingled roofs and siding options. They are a good value when compared to a RV. If you are permanently parked, you are paying for a lot of features in a RV that you aren't using. Good luck.
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Fish Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie
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You only live once.
Same for us. We looked for a couple years as I was very specific on where I wanted to be. Don't settle. Get what you want and you'll never regret it.
I use it to keep my sanity. Last weekend we were there and even though it was bone cold, never tire of the relaxing view.
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Grove Oklahoma
If you don't mind the question, what lake are you on?
What?! Apparently you’re doing it wrong!
Not after 45yrs. She might be doing it Wrong but no me.What?! Apparently you’re doing it wrong!
I got nothin
I have lived fulltime or owned a weekend place where you are thinking about buying for 35 years. I now have a mobile home there where I stay 3-5 days a week. For me living there full time got old but a lot of it was because of bad neighbors. Depending on which canal you are on they do get too shallow to use during some months. That area is a very unique and not for everyone. Good luck..
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