Where can I get population and live on the water?

[Bandersnatch]

I've been trying to find a long term place to settle as my goal for the future. I am aware that I may have to leave the company I work for some day to live in the location I want. Problem is I want to live on the water and the wife has two priorities. Her #1 is population, the bigger the city the town the better and my #1 is I want a dock. I want to live on the water. A bonus for her and somewhat me would be close to the beach as well. That could be ten minutes or an hour. Also, the water can't freeze, ever. Having the possibility at fresh waster and brackish would also be a bonus. Not even sure if that's a thing. Living on the water would mean a sub 500k house by today's money standards. Let me know your thoughts! 

[A-Jay]

Good Luck with all that. 

You may need two places.

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

Outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake there is a new subdivision with lots for sale.  0.7 acre lot on the lake with a dock permit $529,000.  A lot with a community dock shared by four homes,  $475,000.  A lot in the same subdivision,  not on the lake with no dock,  $129,000.   Living on the water ain't cheap.

 

It would be great to be able to walk out the back door and walk to your own dock and just go fishing. My concern is security.  There's too much money in a bass boat and thieves know this.  I wouldn't feel safe leaving everything in the boat and I wouldn't want to carry everything back and forth to the boat every time I go fishing.

 

My dream has always been to have a house on the lake with my own ramp and a garage with doors on the front and back.  Just hook the boat to the truck and put it in reverse to launch on my own private ramp,  or put it in drive to go launch elsewhere. 

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

54 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Good Luck with all that. 

You may need two places.

A-Jay

LOL I'm aware. Figured I'd ask the experts 

[J._Bricker]

@Chief250, I don’t think that place at your price point exists here in California. If it does, it’d would probably be easy to find due to the long line of people waiting to make a offer lol. I’d personally opt for a home that keeps the Mrs happy with a large 3 car in a neighborhood 10-20 minutes from a launch ramp. Good luck with your quest!

[Bandersnatch]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake there is a new subdivision with lots for sale.  0.7 acre lot on the lake with a dock permit $529,000.  A lot with a community dock shared by four homes,  $475,000.  A lot in the same subdivision,  not on the lake with no dock,  $129,000.   Living on the water ain't cheap.

 

It would be great to be able to walk out the back door and walk to your own dock and just go fishing. My concern is security.  There's too much money in a bass boat and thieves know this.  I wouldn't feel safe leaving everything in the boat and I wouldn't want to carry everything back and forth to the boat every time I go fishing.

 

My dream has always been to have a house on the lake with my own ramp and a garage with doors on the front and back.  Just hook the boat to the truck and put it in reverse to launch on my own private ramp,  or put it in drive to go launch elsewhere. 

 

 

A house would be great

[Tennessee Boy]

33 minutes ago, Chief250 said:

A house would be great

LOL.  Yeah,  I could get by with a tent and outhouse as long as it's on the water.  My wife, like yours has higher standards.

[Bandersnatch]

12 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

LOL.  Yeah,  I could get by with a tent and outhouse as long as it's on the water.  My wife, like yours has higher standards.

12 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

LOL.  Yeah,  I could get by with a tent and outhouse as long as it's on the water.  My wife, like yours has higher standard

Lake County Florida on the Harris chain is doable but not a super ideal population. 

[OCdockskipper]

Orange County, California has a few locations that meet all that criteria with 1 caveat.

 

I'm on Lake Forest II in the city of Lake Forest.  House on the water with a dock.  Dozens of neighbors within walking distance, city population near 100 thousand, county population over 3 million.  The ocean is 20 minutes away and even though there is snow on the local mountains, the temps here rarely ever dip below 40 or over 100.  The fishing is great, most Saturday's you have the lake to yourself.

 

The catch?  Home prices start at $1.5 million and you have to put up with the California government.

 

Canyon Lake is a little further inland, so it's prices are lower, but most lakefront homes are still over $1 million.

 

The best of both worlds will typically be expensive.

[FryDog62]

4 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake there is a new subdivision with lots for sale.  0.7 acre lot on the lake with a dock permit $529,000.  A lot with a community dock shared by four homes,  $475,000.  A lot in the same subdivision,  not on the lake with no dock,  $129,000.   Living on the water ain't cheap.

 

It would be great to be able to walk out the back door and walk to your own dock and just go fishing. My concern is security.  There's too much money in a bass boat and thieves know this.  I wouldn't feel safe leaving everything in the boat and I wouldn't want to carry everything back and forth to the boat every time I go fishing.

 

My dream has always been to have a house on the lake with my own ramp and a garage with doors on the front and back.  Just hook the boat to the truck and put it in reverse to launch on my own private ramp,  or put it in drive to go launch elsewhere. 

 

 

To clarify, those prices are for the lot only so excluding home price?  Wondering if there are townhomes there that are less expensive than a single family house, but also have a garage for boat storage and nearby access to water? 

[Tennessee Boy]

15 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

To clarify, those prices are for the lot only so excluding home price?  Wondering if there are townhomes there that are less expensive than a single family house, but also have a garage for boat storage and nearby access to water? 

Sure there are lots of options.  I believe there are condos in the area that include a slip in a community dock.  My point is that the lots on the water with a dock permit cost $400,000 more than a lot right across the street and that does not include the cost of a house or a dock.  To make matters even worse,  the Corp of Engineers owns the land around the lake.  It may look like your back yard but it does not belong to you.  It is public land and accessible to everyone.  I think you even have to get a permit to mow all the way to the water. 

[Sam]

My thoughts:

 

Her #1 is population, the bigger the city the town the better.

City property on lakes and rivers is expensive due to the fact that there are only so many lots available to build and demand for waterfront property is high.

 

My #1 is I want a dock.

Best bet is a lake with a stationary or floating dock.  Plenty to select among. Get a realtor in the area you are considering and have them tell you what is available.

 

I want to live on the water. A bonus for her and somewhat me would be close to the beach as well. This means Tier One Windstorm areas like the coastal areas from Mississippi to Florida and then up the coast to Virginia and Maryland. Forgot Louisiana as the state does not have beaches.

 

Also, the water can't freeze, ever.

Limits your selection to Dixie from South Carolina down to Florida and across to Mississippi, over Louisiana, and then into Texas. 

 

Having the possibility at fresh waster and brackish would also be a bonus.

Tidal rivers are your best bet unless you want to fish the Louisiana marsh. Check out the tidal rivers in each state you are considering or a place that has brackish water in your area.

 

A sub 500k house by today's money standards. 

Yes, affordable housing under $500,000 is available. Just remember, waterfront property is expensive and limited.

 

Good luck and let us know what you find out and where you are considering moving.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Realtor

Get your maps our; do your research; boil down your options to specific areas and get a realtor.

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, Sam said:

My thoughts:

 

Her #1 is population, the bigger the city the town the better.

City property on lakes and rivers is expensive due to the fact that there are only so many lots available to build and demand for waterfront property is high.

 

My #1 is I want a dock.

Best bet is a lake with a stationary or floating dock.  Plenty to select among. Get a realtor in the area you are considering and have them tell you what is available.

 

I want to live on the water. A bonus for her and somewhat me would be close to the beach as well. This means Tier One Windstorm areas like the coastal areas from Mississippi to Florida and then up the coast to Virginia and Maryland. Forgot Louisiana as the state does not have beaches.

 

Also, the water can't freeze, ever.

Limits your selection to Dixie from South Carolina down to Florida and across to Mississippi, over Louisiana, and then into Texas. 

 

Having the possibility at fresh waster and brackish would also be a bonus.

Tidal rivers are your best bet unless you want to fish the Louisiana marsh. Check out the tidal rivers in each state you are considering or a place that has brackish water in your area.

 

A sub 500k house by today's money standards. 

Yes, affordable housing under $500,000 is available. Just remember, waterfront property is expensive and limited.

 

Good luck and let us know what you find out and where you are considering moving.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Realtor

Get your maps our; do your research; boil down your options to specific areas and get a realtor.

Thank you

[lsufan334]

Lake Conroe? 

[N Florida Mike]

There’s always the St Johns river system in the Jacksonville area. The most expensive homes are right on the river, but there are homes on creeks off the river in all directions. You would definitely also have the population your wife wants and no ice ( well once in my lifetime) There are other options also.. One of my old friends lives app. 12 miles south of downtown in a one street community that has a community dock and everyone has their own boat slip. My friend lives 1 house off the river and has his bass boat in the slip. 
The river has great fishing and I don’t think people fish it as much as they used to. I think it’s because salt water fishing is so close too and seems to be more popular now.

[TnRiver46]

I think Florida is your best bet! 

[Bandersnatch]

I agree. Florida seems like the best option 

[SC53]

The Harris Chain in Central Florida is probably you best bet based on your criteria.  There’s 5 lakes in the chain so that gives you more location options.  Home prices are more reasonable ( but still not cheap) compared to other lakefront areas in Florida. Your wife will like downtown Mt. Dora as it’s a cool little town.  Big city Orlando is less than an hour away but there’s a lot of shopping much closer. If you want a beach and saltwater it’s within a 2 hour drive.

Clermont chain of lakes is another option but prices will be much higher.

[gnappi]

If you're taking salt water, $500k is unlikely in south Florida.

 

Around 1990 I bought (what I called a bomb shelter 50's summer home) a house on deep salt water with relatively easy (less than 30 minutes through a no wake zone) access to the ocean, a brackish river, and short drive to GR8 bass fishing, under $225k. The same house (actually they doze the house and build new nowadays) is close to a million.

 

Freshwater is a different story. Under $500k is rather easily done.